Spicy Watermelon Cilantro Salad (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Salad Base

01 - 1 mini watermelon (or 1/4 of a regular watermelon), cut into wedges or bite-sized pieces
02 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
03 - 1/2 jalapeño, thinly sliced or finely diced (adjust to your heat preference)

→ Zesty Dressing

04 - 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1-2 limes)
05 - 2 tablespoons good quality olive oil
06 - 2 teaspoons honey
07 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
08 - Pinch of red chili flakes (optional)

→ For Garnish

09 - Flaky sea salt
10 - Extra red chili flakes
11 - Additional cilantro leaves

# Instructions:

01 - Start by slicing into that juicy watermelon. You can either cut it into handheld triangular wedges for a more casual, picnic-style presentation, or cube it into bite-sized chunks if you're planning to serve it in bowls. The smaller pieces work great for a more formal setting where folks will be using forks rather than their hands.
02 - Grab a small bowl and squeeze in that fresh lime juice – the fresher the better! Pour in your olive oil, drizzle in the honey, sprinkle the kosher salt, and add a pinch of those chili flakes if you're using them. Whisk everything together until the honey is fully dissolved and the dressing looks slightly thickened and unified.
03 - Toss your chopped cilantro and those slices of jalapeño right into the dressing. If you're sensitive to heat, remember to remove the seeds and ribs from the jalapeño first, or just use less of it. Give everything a good stir to make sure the cilantro and jalapeño are well-distributed throughout the dressing.
04 - If you've gone with watermelon wedges, arrange them on a lovely serving platter or individual plates, then spoon the flavorful dressing over the top, making sure to get some of those cilantro bits and jalapeño slices on each piece. For cubed watermelon, simply add the chunks to a bowl, pour over the dressing, and gently toss until everything is lightly coated – you don't want to mash up those juicy pieces!
05 - Just before serving, sprinkle everything with a little flaky sea salt – that crunch against the soft watermelon is absolutely magical. Add another small pinch of chili flakes if you're feeling adventurous and maybe a few extra cilantro leaves for color. The contrast between the sweet melon, spicy jalapeño, bright lime, and salty finish creates an explosion of summer flavors in every bite.
06 - This salad is at its absolute best when it's freshly made, so gather your folks around right away! The bright colors and enticing aroma will have everyone reaching for seconds before you can even sit down. There's something about the combination of cool watermelon and that spicy-sweet dressing that makes this the perfect refresher on a hot summer day.

# Notes:

01 - This watermelon salad is best enjoyed immediately after preparing, as the acidic lime juice will begin to break down the watermelon if it sits too long, making it mushy. If you need to prepare components ahead of time, keep the cut watermelon and dressing separate in the refrigerator and combine just before serving.
02 - For a vegan version, simply swap the honey for agave nectar or maple syrup. For a Whole30 compliant dish, omit the honey entirely or use a compliant date syrup.
03 - The spice level is totally adjustable! For a milder salad, remove all seeds and ribs from the jalapeño and use less of it. For adventurous heat-seekers, keep some seeds or even use a whole jalapeño.

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