Spicy Watermelon Arugula Salad Recipe
A vibrant and refreshing Spicy Watermelon Arugula Salad featuring a zesty chipotle strawberry dressing, juicy watermelon cubes, fresh strawberries, peppery arugula, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy pepitas, balanced by spicy serrano peppers and crisp cucumbers. Perfect for a light, flavorful summer dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Chipotle Strawberry Dressing
- ½ pint strawberries (hulled)
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce (from canned chipotle)
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 5 tbsp granulated sugar
- 4 tbsp fresh parsley (stems removed)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp kosher salt (Diamond Crystal brand)
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup olive oil
Salad
- 4 oz arugula
- 16 oz watermelon (cut into ½ inch cubes)
- ½ pint strawberries (hulled and sliced)
- 4 oz goat cheese (crumbled)
- 2 Persian cucumbers (sliced thin)
- 1 serrano pepper (sliced thin)
- 2 oz pepitas
- 1 pinch kosher salt (Diamond Crystal brand)
Instructions
- Make the Chipotle Strawberry Dressing: Add the hulled strawberries, chipotle pepper in adobo, adobo sauce, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, fresh parsley, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, and black pepper into a food processor. Blend until smooth with just a few small chunks remaining.
- Incorporate the Olive Oil: With the food processor running on low speed, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Continue blending without stopping until all the oil is fully incorporated and the dressing emulsifies.
- Prepare the Salad Base: Arrange the arugula in a large salad bowl as the base layer for the salad.
- Add the Fruit and Vegetables: Top the arugula with the cubed watermelon, sliced strawberries, crumbled goat cheese, thinly sliced Persian cucumbers, and serrano pepper slices evenly distributed.
- Finish and Serve: Sprinkle a pinch of kosher salt over the salad, drizzle the chipotle strawberry dressing generously on top, and garnish with pepitas. Serve immediately for the freshest taste and texture.
Notes
- The dressing can be made a day ahead and refrigerated to enhance flavor; bring to room temperature before serving.
- Adjust the amount of serrano pepper to control the heat level.
- Use fresh, ripe watermelon and strawberries for the best sweetness and juiciness.
- Chipotle in adobo sauce adds smoky heat; substitute with smoked paprika for a milder version.
- For a vegan option, omit goat cheese or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
Keywords: Watermelon salad, Arugula salad, Spicy salad, Chipotle dressing, Summer salad, Healthy salad
Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/spicy-watermelon-arugula-salad-recipe/
