Primally Inspired Real food, Natural Remedies, Holistic Living
Watermelon Salad recipe with mixed salad greens, blueberries and almonds topped with a Coconut Lime Dressing. Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian.
Watermelon Salad Recipe (Paleo, Vegan)
Last week, my husband and I had a really fun date. We started the day off by going to a Float Spa. Ever heard of a Float Spa? It’s basically the best thing ever. It’s a type of holistic therapy where you float in a private “pod” filled with water and 900 pounds of Epsom Salts (yes, I’m serious – 900 pounds!) while in total darkness for an hour. Ohmigosh. It was heaven – I would totally recommend trying it if you ever have the opportunity. We both can’t wait to go back.
After our float session, we ate lunch at one of our favorite farm to table restaurants, Harvest in Harrisburg, PA. While at Harvest, the server recommended that I try their Watermelon Salad. She said that everyone raves about it and it’s her personal favorite item on the summer menu.
Now I know why it’s her favorite! Wow, that Watermelon Salad was incredible – light, refreshing, crisp, gorgeous, fresh and such a fun mix of colors, textures and flavors. It was like a taste of sunshine and summer! After I basically licked my plate clean, I knew that I had to try and recreate it so I could enjoy it at home. Because let’s face it, it’s not every day that I’m licking a salad plate clean (confessions of a healthy living blogger — I’m not a huge salad fan).
I promise – there really are a lot of leafy greens under there 🙂
And I’m proud to say that I think I nailed the recreation of the Harvest Watermelon Salad. This recipe is just a few simple ingredients, but it packs a big punch. And it’s so pretty, isn’t it? I can’t get enough of it! I’ve even eaten it for dinner with a little herb grilled chicken on top. It’s fabulous topped with shrimp, too. And that Coconut Lime Dressing? SO GOOD! I hope you get a chance to try this recipe so you can understand why I’m so crazy over it! Enjoy 🙂
Watermelon Salad Recipe
- 6 cups mixed salad greens (I use an organic spring mix)
- 2 cups cubed watermelon
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup sliced strawberries or any type of berry
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds or macadamia nuts
- ½ cup full fat coconut milk (I use THIS)
- 1 lime, juiced (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 heaping tablespoon honey or sweetener of choice (for Vegan option, use coconut sugar instead)
- Make the Coconut Lime Dressing by combining the coconut milk, lime juice and honey (or sweetener of choice) until well blended. Set aside.
- Add the salad greens to a large salad bowl. Top with watermelon, blueberries and berries. Lastly, add the nuts. Serve with Coconut Lime Dressing. Enjoy!
P.S. Want to know how to pick the most perfect watermelon every single time? Click HERE for my watermelon tips! If you follow those tips, you really will pick the best watermelon – my friends think I’m the watermelon whisperer now 🙂
Pin Watermelon Salad Recipe HERE:
So funny Kelly…I just had the watermelon salad at Harvest last week for the first time and thought of you. It is so amazing!!! And glad you loved the float therapy…just read about that recently.
Elizabeth, when we went in, I quickly scanned the entire restaurant, hoping to run into you 🙂 Gosh, I love that place! I’m kind of glad it’s such a far drive – I think I’d eat there all the time if not!
We’re north of Harrisburg and don’t get down there too often anymore but thought I’d ask. Does this restaurant feature mostly healthy choices? We rarely (and I mean very rarely) ate out for the past few years, but thought I’d tuck this restaurant name away for future reference if they offer healthier foods.
How funny. I don’t eat a ‘lot’ of fruit, but had fresh organic pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, and grapes in the fridge, and I just picked some blueberries out back, so decided to make a small fruit salad. I also had some fresh coconut milk, so scooped off the thickened top to throw in.
I just sat down to check my mail and your email was first in line. I don’t have any watermelon, but that sounds wonderful, so will try it soon. Sometimes I add a tad of honey and flavorings in the coconut milk, but will try the lime, as I always have limes for juicing.
Your date also sounded like a fabulous way to spend some time. Hadn’t heard of that before.
Hi Ann! Harvest is full of healthy choices – I’m excited for you to try it! It’s a farm to table restaurant and almost all of their ingredients are organic and/or from local farms. It’s fantastic! We go a couple times a year (it’s an hour drive for us or else we’d probably go more often) and I’ve never had anything I didn’t absolutely love.
Your fruit salad sounds so good! My body seems to want/need a lot of fruit in the summer. I love that you have blueberries out back. We have 4 bushes in our garden, but they didn’t produce much fruit this year – maybe next year – they are only a year old. I did manage to find a few wild blueberries bushes around our property, though, which was a nice surprise 🙂
I know…it is so tempting! Love everything on the menu!
Would it work to substitute mango for the watermelon?
I think that sounds fantastic, Lisa!
i can see some feta and basil in that salad, too, for a different take on it. looks good!
Oooo, yes! Love your idea!
Will try this looks delicious
Hope you enjoy it, Beverly!
Yum! My hubby can’t do melons, but this is a salad I think my kids would go gaga for. I find it interesting that you didn’t use any oil. Is that because there coconut milk has some oil in it already? Thanks for the recipe. We have a date night coming up on Saturday and I actually suggested to my hubby that we go to the beach – since I’ll finally be able to go in the water without an 18 month old to hover around. So we’ll get to soak in some salt water, as well. ????
Hi Dorinda! Your beach date sounds awesome! Vitamin Sea and Sea salt 🙂 Yes, the coconut milk does have some coconut oil in it.
Have made this a couple of times now. I found some blueberry rolled goats cheese at Trader Joe’s and added that to the salad. It was a huge hit with the whole family. Thank you so much for the recipe and the restaurant name if we get to that area.
Your blueberry goat cheese addition sounds amazing – now I have to visit a Trader Joe’s 🙂
Hi there,
I tried this at home yesterday and this turned out to so delicious.
This changed my perception of not having salads normally.
Thank you for this delicious recipe. I would like to see some more recipe related to salads and will share with others. keep sharing ?
Awesome! Thanks for your comment, Alicia!