This watermelon bacon salad is a refreshing, summery dish with a fun salty, crunchy kick. It’d make a great addition to your summer party.
Did you just do a double take on that title? Because I did and I’m the one who made the darn thing.
Watermelon + bacon. Yes, I’m serious.
I feel like I owe some sort of apology for the influx of strawberries and basil recently but then I realize that’s what’s in season, that’s what I’m craving, and so hopefully you are too. If not, sorry, I’m not sorry.
Come back in October maybe?
So there’s this half a watermelon in my fridge that’s really the size of a normal watermelon. I don’t even want to know what steroids were pumped through this thing because seriously, it’s ginormous.
I love watermelon, but I never buy it. It’s heavy, it takes up an impractical amount of space in my dumbass side by side fridge which I loathe with all my being and cutting through the rind nearly gives me a heart attack as I fear the knife is going to slip and something important is going to be chopped off a la Game of Thrones.
I’ve developed a new fear of shiny, metal, pointy things since watching that show, my chef’s knife included.
12 pounds is a lot of melon. I’ve come to this number by the way, solely by doing tricep extensions with it and figuring it’s right around my “easy set” weight for that exercise. That was a sight in the kitchen.
Anyway, it’s a lot and something needed to be done.
I’ve done the watermelon, mint and feta thing before. It’s delicious, but I didn’t have feta. I did (and still do) have an overflowing produce drawer between my mother telling me to buy 15 things for father’s day and then not using any of them and the weekly CSA haul, however.
So, a cob of corn, some peppery arugula and strawberries made their way into the bowl with a good dose of basil. I mixed it up with some simple oil and vinegar dressing, tasted it and determined it needed salt.
Sans feta, bacon stepped in.
He’s such a good sport, stepping up to the plate (ha) like that, isn’t he?
What resulted was a totally refreshing and summery salad with a fun kick of salt and crunch. If you’re sick of stuff like that, you’re crazy.
Prefer to just eat watermelon the “normal” way? Check out this guide on how to cut watermelon into sticks for the easiest enjoyment.
Watermelon Bacon Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups of watermelon, cubed
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1 ear of corn, kernels sliced off
- 1/2 cup baby arugula
- 1/4 cup basil, chopped
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- salt & pepper, to taste
- 2 pieces bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled
Instructions
- Combine everything except bacon in a large bowl and toss to combine.
- Plate and top with a portion of the bacon.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
Oh man, I MUST try this. I am freakin’ OBSESSED with watermelon (if you noticed based on my instagram pics lately!). This looks unreal, I love the salty/sweet combo!!
PS I always cut up the entire watermelon when I buy it, I cut it into chunks and then store it in a big flat tupperware in the fridge .I hate storing it whole, it takes up way too much space, plus if its cut-up I’ll eat it instantly!
Now that it’s down to a decent size that’s exactly what I did. If I tried to do it before, I would’ve used up all my tupperware!
I’ve been eating my weight in watermelon this past month. As soon as TJ’s starts selling them, I basically eat one a week until the end of the season. It somehow never gets old. Cutting them seriously stresses me out though. I always end up getting the knife stuck in the middle and then praying I don’t lose a finger (or an entire hand) trying to get it out.
I’ve yet to watch Game of Thrones but my husband is obsessed. I’m thinking I’ll stick to The Bachelorette.
I recently discovered that I actually like watermelon, but oddly, I only like it as a savory item. I made a watermelon, cucumber, pistachio and feta salad last week. But this one’s got bacon in it, so sign me up!
Watermelon and feta (or halloumi, another great combo) work so well together that I can imagine this sweet/salty watermlon bacon thing is amazing!
Sweet and salty hmmm… Looks interesting thats for sure! :)
Whata wonderful recipe! I stopped buy those huge watermelons,t o big for just the two of us to eat, however I have forze watermelon and use it for smoothies. I love your bacon and watermelon salad. It sounds intresting and good! My HUsband LOVEs bacon and I bet I could get hime to eat his fruits and veggies if I put bacon it it! I have all the ingredients, so I am going to give this a try tonight!!
Oh I bet the sweet and salty in this is SO good! Love this idea!
Bacon and watermelon… You are full of beautiful ideas!!! I never buy watermelon either (no chance I’m lugging an extra 13 pounds home from the store), but somehow between parents and BBQ’s, we always end up having some in the fridge.
I’m so intrigued I’m gonna make it. Anything is better with bacon!
This is clearly right up my alley, love fruit and bacon pairings. And the vision of you tricep extending a watermelon is all too much hha.