Looking for a watermelon radish recipe? This watermelon radish salad with tomato and avocado offers a refreshing combination of sweet – tangy flavor and the lemon honey vinaigrette just rounds everything up wonderfully.
The watermelon radish salad recipe is perfect as fresh, light meal and a great choice for those looking to incorporate more fresh produce into their diet, especially during spring time.
There’s nothing quite like the combination of sweet and tangy flavors when it comes to refreshing salads. That’s why I’m excited to share my recipe for a delicious and healthy salad featuring watermelon radishes, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, and a zesty lemon honey vinaigrette.
Not only is this salad quick and easy to make, but it’s also packed with nutrients that will leave you feeling energized and satisfied. Make sure to check my other radish salad recipes for more ideas.
Additionally, the healthy fats found in both the dressing and avocado can aid in the absorption of key nutrients from the watermelon radishes and tomatoes, making this salad an all-around nutritional powerhouse.
Related: Healthy Radish Cucumber Salad
How To Make A Healthy, Colorful and Zesty Watermelom Radish Salad
Ingredients You Need
- Watermelon radishes: are the star of the salad, providing a crisp and slightly sweet flavor with a bright pink color. They are also a great source of vitamin C, fiber, calcium, potassium and folate.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes add a juicy, sweet and slightly acidic flavor to the salad, as well as a burst of color. They are also rich in vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
- Lettuce leaves: The lettuce serves as a base /bed for the salad and provides a refreshing and crispy texture. It is also low in calories and high in nutrients.
- Scallions: also known as green onions, add a mild onion flavor to the salad and a pop of green color.
- Avocado: The creamy and rich texture of avocado adds a satisfying and filling element to the salad, along with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.
Related: Cucumber Mango Salad With Avocado
For the Dressing
- Olive Oil: serves as the base for the salad dressing and provides healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. Fat helps absorb the fat-soluble vitamins from the salad.
- Lemon Juice: the acidity of the lemon juice adds brightness and tang to the dressing, as well as a dose of vitamin C.
- Dijon Mustard: This tangy and slightly spicy mustard helps to emulsify the dressing and adds depth of flavor.
- Tahini: This sesame seed paste adds a nutty flavor and creaminess to the dressing. Tahini is also a good source of healthy fats and protein.
- Honey: The honey adds a touch of sweetness to the dressing, balancing out the acidity of the lemon juice.
- Salt and Black Pepper: These common seasonings enhance the flavor of the salad and dressing, bringing everything together in a harmonious blend of tastes and textures.
Related: 7 Creamy Gluten Free Dairy Free Salad Dressings (Vegan)
Instructions:
- Make the dressing first: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, lemon juice, tahini, salt, and pepper until well combined to make the vinaigrette. You can add some extra dried herbs like basil if you like.
- Prepare the salad: In a large bowl, combine the watermelon radishes, tomatoes, and avocado – all chopped into small cubes. Slice the scallions.
- Wash the lettuce leaves, tap to dry. You can use them as a bed when serving the watermelon-radish salad or just incorporate the chopped leaves with the rest of ingredients when mixing.
- Assemble: pour the vinaigrette over the salad and gently toss to coat. You’ll need probably 2/3 of the amount. Keep the rest for extra drizzles if you like.
- Serve the salad in the first 3-4 hours, chilled, especially during the warmer season.
FAQs
Watermelon radishes have a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a crisp texture. Some people describe the taste as slightly peppery or earthy.
Watermelon radishes are becoming more widely available and can often be found at farmers markets, specialty grocery stores, and some larger supermarkets. I bought mine from Whole Foods Store.
Watermelon radishes are typically in season from late fall to early spring. The exact season can vary depending on the location and climate, but in general, they are harvested from October to April in the northern hemisphere.
Yes, you can substitute other types of radishes in this salad if you can’t find watermelon radishes. However, keep in mind that different types of radishes may have a stronger or spicier flavor than watermelon radishes.
Yes, you can make the dressing ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Give it a good shake or stir before using.
This salad is best eaten fresh, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a day. Keep in mind that the avocado may start to brown and the lettuce may wilt over time.
Yes, this salad is vegan-friendly as long as you use maple syrup or another vegan sweetener in place of the honey in the dressing.
More Light Summer Salads
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Simple Zesty Watermelon Radish Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 medium watermelon radishes - cubed
- 2-3 medium tomatoes - I used 3 small, and 1 purple heirloom
- 3 stalks scallion - chopped
- 1 large avocado - cubed
- 3 large lettuce leaves
Dressing
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1½ tsp tahini
- 1 tbsp honey - for vegan version use maple syrup
- ¼ tsp sea salt + 1/5 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp dried basil - optional
Instructions
Make the dressing first:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, lemon juice, tahini, salt, and pepper until well combined to make the vinaigrette. You can add some extra dried herbs like basil if you like.
Prepare the salad:
- In a large bowl, combine the watermelon radishes, tomatoes, and avocado – all chopped into small cubes. Slice the scallions. Wash the lettuce leaves, tap to dry. You can use them as a bed when serving the watermelon-radish salad or just incorporate the chopped leaves with the rest of ingredients when mixing.
Assemble:
- pour the vinaigrette over the salad and gently toss to coat. You’ll need probably 2/3 of the amount. Keep the rest for extra drizzles if you like.
Serve:
- Serve the watermelon radish salad in the first 3-4 hours once assembled, chilled, especially during the warmer season.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
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Lynn
Friday 5th of May 2023
I’m mystified by the black shiny object in the ingredient photo! I do have all the ingredients and plan to make this salad for lunch today. Thanks for the inspiration!
HealthyTasteOfLife
Monday 15th of May 2023
:D That's a heirloom dark purple tomato. I used a mix of regular red tomatoes and heirloom tomatoes.