Description
A refreshing mixed green salad featuring juicy watermelon, crumbly queso fresco, and a vibrant cilantro-lime dressing that perfectly balances tangy and sweet flavors. This light and easy-to-make salad is ideal for a healthy lunch or as a side dish for summer meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/2 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/4 cup cilantro infused olive oil (or extra virgin olive oil)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Salad
- 1/2 cup queso fresco, crumbled
- 3/4 cup watermelon, cubed
- 5 cups mixed greens (such as spinach, arugula, or spring mix)
Instructions
- Make the Dressing: Combine the cilantro, lime juice, garlic, rice wine vinegar, and honey in a food processor. Pulse 10-15 times until the mixture forms a fine paste.
- Emulsify Dressing: Slowly stream in the cilantro infused olive oil while letting the processor run until the dressing is smooth and emulsified, about 20-30 seconds. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble Salad: Place the mixed greens into a large bowl. Add the crumbled queso fresco and cubed watermelon.
- Toss Salad: Add a couple of tablespoons of the prepared dressing (or your desired amount) to the salad and toss gently until all greens are lightly coated.
- Serve: Portion the salad into individual bowls and serve immediately for best freshness and flavor.
Notes
- The cilantro infused olive oil can be substituted with good quality extra virgin olive oil if unavailable.
- For a vegan option, omit queso fresco or replace with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Use fresh, ripe watermelon for the best sweetness and texture balance.
- This salad is best served immediately but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: mixed green salad, watermelon salad, queso fresco salad, cilantro dressing, summer salad, vegetarian salad, fresh salad
