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    You are here: Home » Food » Recipes » Watermelon Salad with Basil and White Balsamic

    Watermelon Salad with Basil and White Balsamic

    May 14, 2020 By Mary 3 Comments

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    Watermelon and Basil Side Salad
    Watermelon and Basil Side Salad
    Watermelon and Basil Side Salad

    This Watermelon Salad Recipe is full of fresh and lively flavors!

    This ain’t your mama’s watermelon salad recipe, nor is it your neighbors. This one is packed with some unexpected and delicious secrets. Your guests will go CRAZY for it, and they’ll never guess the secret ingredient.

    Watermelon Salad with Basil and White Balsamic Vinegar in a white bowl

    Hint: Basil

    This has always been a super popular recipe at our Ember and Vine summer catering events!

    It’s a great one for a small family or huge summer gathering.

    Folks are always surprised when they take their first bite, because at first glance they think it’s one of those typical watermelon salads with mint and citrus. But no…..

    We’ve got some secrets tucked in there, and they do not involve mint or citrus.

    For this watermelon salad we’re leaning towards savory flavors to make it easier to pair with wine. Mint can be tricky with wine, and the citrus is really best left for acidic white wines.

    Watermelon Salad Ingredients

    • Basil – Adds a touch of spice and a subtle influence that is fragrant.
    • White Balsamic Vinegar – A great contrast to the sweet from fresh watermelons and a light acidic touch.
    • Kosher Salt — to bring out all the flavors.
    Cubed Watermelon for Watermelon Salad with Balsamic and White Balsamic Vinegar

    What what?

    Yes! The combination is so delicious, and it may throw people off a bit at first, but after their first bite, eyes open wide and they look at you and give you that smile of approval that quietly says, “Oh yeah. This is goooood!”

    “It’s so different,” they’ll say. “But I love it!” they’ll continue.

    The flavors, combined with a hint of kosher salt, create this great balance of savory and sweet, and work great when you pair them with wine, even a red like Pinot Noir. No lie! We’ve even served this watermelon salad at a wedding (!!!), and it was served with Pinot.

    We also shared this salad with the awesome folks at Portland’s News Program, AM Northwest, live on TV!

    Cooking Demo on AM Northwest
    Having a nice chat with Helen on AM Northwest!

    On the show I got to discuss my favorite ways to fully utilize a whole watermelon without resorting to the typical wedge slices. I used half for this salad, and the other half for this amazing Sparkling Watermelon Cocktail.

    Both are creative and delicious uses for all that watermelon out there right now. And the best part is that they are both totally budget-friendly dishes!

    How to make Watermelon Salad

    Watermelon Salad with Basil and White Balsamic
    Seasonal watermelon is sweet and an awesome salad idea.
    1. Slice Watermelon: cut watermelon into 1” cubes.
    2. Make Dressing: combine white balsamic, chopped basil, and kosher salt.
    3. Toss: mix together and serve.

    When we usually make it for large events or summer gatherings we use the entire watermelon. A medium-large size watermelon will usually serve around 20-25 people. But for a smaller portion you can start with just a quarter of a watermelon. This should yield roughly 8 cups. The proportions are so easy that you can adjust the flavors based on your size crowd.

    I’ve adjusted this recipe to quarter of a watermelon, which should happily feed around 6-8 people. The notes contain a whole watermelon portion, good for larger crowds.

    Watermelon Salad Recipe with Basil and White Balsamic Vinegar

    Watermelon Salad

    Watermelon Salad with Basil and White Balsamic Vinegar

    A simple, delicious, and savory watermelon salad tossed with basil and white balsamic vinegar.
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    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 6 -8 people
    Author: Mary Cressler | Vindulge

    Ingredients

    • A quarter of 1 medium-sized seedless watermelon, rind removed, and chopped into 1-inch cubes (roughly 8 cups)
    • 2-4 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar, taste to adjust
    • 1 tablespoon basil, chopped
    • pinch kosher salt, about ⅛th of a teaspoon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Combine watermelon cubes, white balsamic, basil, and salt in a large bowl. Gently use your hands to mix everything together. Adjust flavors to your preference (add more white balsamic if you desire).
    • Serve and enjoy this delicious and refreshing salad.

    Notes

    *Salad will keep up to 24 hours, after that it starts to get a bit soggy and not as crunchy and delicious like it should be. So enjoy it fresh!
    *To adjust for a WHOLE WATERMELON: Take 1 watermelon (cut into 1” cubes). Add ½ cup of white balsamic, ¼ cup basil (chopped), and then about ½ teaspoon of salt. Mix together and serve. 
    Find the perfect wine pairing at the Vindulge Wine Shop
    Tried this recipe? We would love to see!Mention @vindulge or use the hashtag #vindulge

    More Fun Salads

    • Grilled Beet Salad with Rosé Infused Cranberries
    • Cucumber Salad with Creamy Dill Dressing
    • Black Bean Salad
    • Grilled Acorn Squash Salad
    • Lentil Salad with Smoked Sausage

    Thank you so very much to the amazing crew at AM Northwest for inviting us back again and again! We are truly honored to cook for you and your awesome crew!

    This post was originally published in August of 2016, and updated in May of 2020 with updated information.



    « Spring 2020 Wine Finds
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pech says

      August 10, 2016 at 2:04 pm

      WOW this salad and cocktail look like the best use of watermelon ever! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    2. Marlynn @ UrbanBlissLife says

      August 08, 2016 at 7:01 pm

      Yum! I use regular balsamic vinegar in our watermelon salad from time to time but have never tried white balsamic vinegar – it sounds wonderful! Can’t beat a cool watermelon salad on a hot day.

      Reply
    3. Catherine says

      August 08, 2016 at 6:46 pm

      Haha, don’t worry your nails look like you actually use your hands! And I love the idea of basil and balsamic in a watermelon salad. Can’t wait to try it!

      Reply

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    Mary-Cressler-Sept-2015-smI'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, and founder of Vindulge and author of Fire + Wine cookbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

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