Description
This vibrant Thai-Inspired Watermelon & Peach Salad combines juicy watermelon and ripe peaches with a tangy, spicy dressing featuring fresh lime juice, sambal oelek, and fish sauce. Enhanced with aromatic basil, scallions, serrano chile, and crunchy roasted peanuts, this refreshing salad is perfect as a light appetizer or side dish during warm weather.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon sambal oelek
- 1 teaspoon finely grated peeled ginger
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
Salad
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 serrano chile, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh Thai or Italian basil leaves, plus whole leaves for serving
- 6 cups seedless watermelon chunks or melon balls
- 2 ripe peaches, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch slices
- 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, crushed, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together fresh lime juice, sambal oelek, finely grated peeled ginger, and fish sauce until well combined to create a balanced, tangy, and spicy dressing.
- Add aromatics: Stir in thinly sliced scallions, serrano chile, and thinly sliced fresh basil leaves into the dressing, allowing their flavors to infuse and complement the bright dressing.
- Combine fruits and nuts: Add seedless watermelon chunks, sliced peaches, and crushed dry roasted peanuts to the bowl, then gently toss everything together to coat the fruit evenly with the flavorful dressing and distribute the crunch of peanuts.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle additional whole basil leaves and extra crushed peanuts over the top of the salad for freshness and texture. Serve immediately to enjoy the best vibrant flavors and crisp textures.
Notes
- For a milder spice, reduce the amount of serrano chile or remove seeds before slicing.
- Use fresh, ripe peaches and watermelon for the best sweetness and juiciness.
- This salad is best served immediately to prevent the fruit from releasing excess juice and becoming soggy.
- Substitute fish sauce with soy sauce or tamari for a vegetarian or vegan option, though it will alter the flavor profile slightly.
- Peanuts can be omitted or replaced with cashews or toasted almonds for variation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Thai
Keywords: watermelon salad, peach salad, Thai salad, spicy fruit salad, summer salad, no-cook salad
