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.
I definitely get caught up in the excitement of summer watermelons and buy giant ones…forgetting my husband doesn’t even like watermelon and there’s no one to eat it but me. Except…I kind of think I could trick him into eating (and liking) this because there’s bacon involved. Totally needed this!
LOL I totally did a double take on this title. I saw it in my reader and actually gave a nasty face. But then I clicked over and saw the picture and you know, IT AIN’T LOOK TOO BAD. I love watermelon in the summertime, and heck, if I had 12 pounds of watermelon, I’d make this with some bacon too!! Why not? Healthy and bad-ish at the same time ;)
haha, I’m picturing your “nasty face” now when seeing this. ;)
Watermelon = Watermelon Mojitos lovie!!
omg. duh! I made a watermelon strawberry slushy drink this afternoon with it. Next time…rum!
Oh wow, what a flavor combo! I’ve GOT to try this!
I’m not kidding when I say I just drooled when I got to this post. Watermelon and bacon are two of my very favorite things in life (aside from hubs, baby and wine that is). That with strawberries in a salad? You have GOT to be kidding me…I’m in love.
I will be making this this week. I have all said ingredients and have been staring at that watermelon for days wondering what to do with it. I think half will go in this wonderful salad, and half will be juiced. And any “salad” with bacon in it, is a winner in my book (and dear hubby’s). So thanks for the wonderful recipe!
Made. Devoured. Photographed. and Blogged about. Will post tomorrow… be on the lookout :)
I have the same darn problem with watermelon in my fridge. I have the stupid side by side as well. Who decided this was a good idea? NOTHING fits. I know I’m being a little dramatic, but I have never had one before and I’ve never had to rearrange my fridge every single time I open it before either. UGH. I have a ginormous watermelon that barely fits and so I am forced to eat it right away instead. I’m kind of OK with that but I would like it to last long enough for me to make this salad. :)
Ugh, side by sides have followed me my whole adult life. And the damn problem is that they’re always brand new so it’s not like I’m going to get rid of it! They really should stop making them though. I swear no matter what, next house will NOT have a side by side!
preach it sista! I’m with you on that!
Wow, bacon?! Sounds like a great, interesting summer salad! I have been avoiding watermelon because of the lack of space, but i might have to get one soon.
Glad you’re getting creative with the CSA stuff. The #1 reason I stopped our CSA was I don’t need 12 lbs of things..all at once. I need it spaced out, but not…at once. That feast or famine and all that food that needed to be used, asap, was stressing me out. And then other times, I wouldn’t have enough or what I really wanted. Your produce sounds amazing!
Who would have thought to add those togeher bacon and watermellon?! So creative! Looks gorg too