Sweet and spicy, this Strawberry Watermelon Salsa is made with fresh fruit, fresh herbs, honey, jalapeño, and onion. Served with chips (or your favorite savory dish), it’s an addictive appetizer with a unique, refreshing taste.
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A Sweet and Spicy Salsa with Fresh Fruit!
Who doesn’t love chips and salsa? There’s nothing like a big bowl of your favorite tortilla chips (or try my Air Fryer Tortilla Chips!), and a mouthwatering dish of really fresh salsa. Around here, we are fans of all kinds of salsas, but I have to admit, this one might just be the most unusual.
In this recipe, there are no (that’s right, zero!) tomatoes at all! Instead, fresh strawberries lend their classic bright and tangy flavor, while watermelon adds a mellow, sun-ripened sweetness. Fresh herbs, including a bit of mint, give the salsa a fresh-from-the-garden fragrance and taste. To top it all off, fresh diced red onion and a squeeze of honey add flavor for days!
If you love watermelon, make sure to check out these other watermelon favorites: Watermelon Feta Salad, Watermelon Cupcakes, Easy Watermelon Lemonade, and Watermelon Margaritas.
The Ingredients You’ll Need
So just what goes into this mouthwatering, unique salsa recipe? All kinds of super-flavorful, fresh goodies! Let’s take a closer look:
- Watermelon: You can cut up a whole watermelon and use some of it in this recipe, or you can buy cubed watermelon and cut it up smaller.
- Strawberries: Fresh strawberries should have their tops removed and be cut up very small.
- Jalapeno: For mild salsa, make sure to remove the seeds. You may want to wear gloves for this, and definitely avoid touching your eyes. Wash your hands, cutting board, and utensils afterward.
- Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a beautiful herbal note. If you’re not a fan of cilantro, fresh parsley makes a nice substitute, or you could leave this out entirely.
- Basil: Fresh.
- Mint: Also fresh.
- Lime Juice: Lemon juice would also be fine. Fresh is good, but bottled will also work!
- Honey: The honey is optional. Sugar or maple syrup would also be fine.
- Onion: While I like using red onion, any type of onion is fine. Again, be sure to finely dice it.
How Do You Pick Out a Good Watermelon?
Picking out firm, ripe strawberries with few to no blemishes? That’s fairly easy. But watermelon can be a bit trickier. Here are my top tips for getting a good, sweet watermelon:
- Firm, Dark Rind: Never choose a watermelon with soft spots, and look for one that appears to be a dark green color.
- Golden-Yellow Spot: Most watermelons have a lighter spot on them somewhere. This is where the watermelon was resting on the ground as it grew. But you want the lighter spot to be a rich, golden color, not pale or creamy. A pale spot instead of a yellow spot indicates that the melon is not fully ripe.
- A Dull Finish: This is a good tip for other melons, too! Once a melon’s sugar content is truly developed, the rind will usually turn dull, rather than glossy. A glossy, shiny melon might look pretty, but it is less likely to be sweet.
Let’s Make Salsa!
Are you ready for these instructions? I don’t want you to be overwhelmed – they are pretty intense. Just kidding! Literally all you have to do is mix everything together, and let it chill. So easy!
- Combine the Ingredients. Place all of the prepared salsa ingredients together in a bowl, and stir gently to combine without crushing the fruit.
- Chill. While you can serve this immediately, it tastes best if you chill it before serving.
Yummy Variations and Helpful Tips
These are my top tips for making the best strawberry watermelon salsa. It’s not a recipe that I recommend doing a lot of substitutions with, because each ingredient is fairly unique. However, there are a few hints and tweaks you can do to make it suit your own family’s tastes:
- Spice Things Up: As written, this recipe makes a fairly mild salsa, so if you’d like more heat, just add more jalapeño or keep the seeds in your jalapeño.
- Adjust the Sweetness: Omit the honey, if you don’t like the salsa quite so sweet, or if you are using very sweet strawberries and/or watermelon.
- Balsamic Twist: You can add a splash of balsamic vinegar for another punch of flavor, and to balance the sweetness if you feel that it needs it.
- Chopping Instructions: Dice all of the ingredients very small, so that you can get plenty of each ingredient on your chip!
- Chilling Instructions: For maximum flavor, let this chill for a couple of hours in the refrigerator before serving.
What to Serve with Strawberry Watermelon Salsa
While this salsa is just right with crunchy, salty tortilla chips, plantain chips, banana chips, and other snacks, it’s also a beautiful topping for a lot of tasty main courses! Try it with…
- Grilled Chicken: Scatter strawberry watermelon salsa across a beautiful grilled chicken breast, or scoop some onto your plate with a couple of Juicy Grilled Chicken Kabobs. So yummy!
- Enchiladas: The tangy sweetness of this salsa is a perfect foil for savory Sour Cream Enchiladas. Spoon it right over the top of your helping, or serve it as a side dish.
- Tacos: Practically any taco is better with a punch of fresh, tangy salsa, right? And when it comes to this fruity strawberry watermelon salsa, I think Blackened Fish Tacos are just the ticket.
How to Store
To store, place leftover salsa in an airtight container, or use a food storage bag instead. Refrigerate for 3 – 5 days. Stir gently before serving.
Can I Freeze This Recipe?
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend freezing strawberry watermelon salsa, because the fruit will most likely be watery and mushy after thawing. This salsa is best enjoyed fresh. If you’re concerned that you may not finish it before it spoils, you can try halving the recipe!
Strawberry Watermelon Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 cups watermelon, diced small
- 1 cup strawberries, diced small
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 tablespoon basil, chopped
- 1 tablespoon mint, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoons honey, optional
- 3 tablespoons red onion, diced small
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Instructions
- Place all the ingredients together in a bowl and stir gently to combine.
- You can serve immediately or place in the refrigerator for an hour before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Categories:
More Refreshing Dips
- Avocado Salsa
- Best Texas Caviar
- Tomatillo Avocado Salsa
- Homemade Pico de Gallo
- Hot Spinach Dip
- Easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
- Smoked Fish Dip
- Authentic Guacamole
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