Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Tajin (Printable)

Juicy watermelon and crisp cucumber with Tajin, lime and cilantro—bright, tangy, ready in 15 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Produce

01 - 4 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 cups English cucumber, thinly sliced
03 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
04 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing & Seasoning

05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
06 - Zest of 1 lime
07 - 1 to 2 teaspoons Tajín seasoning, to taste
08 - Pinch of sea salt
09 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Optional garnishes

10 - 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
11 - Extra lime wedges, for serving (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Place the watermelon cubes, sliced cucumber, sliced red onion (if using) and chopped cilantro in a large bowl.
02 - In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix the lime juice, lime zest, Tajín, a pinch of sea salt and a few grinds of black pepper until combined.
03 - Pour the dressing over the produce and gently toss with a spoon or tongs until the juices and seasonings coat everything evenly.
04 - Taste and adjust with additional Tajín, lime juice or salt as desired.
05 - Serve immediately for best texture, or chill in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes for a cooler finish; garnish with crumbled feta and lime wedges if using.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • If you have ripe watermelon and five free minutes, this salad makes you look like a genius at summer picnics.
  • I swear the combination of chili-lime seasoning and sweet fruit is a revelation if you haven’t had it before.
02 -
  • If you mix too vigorously, the watermelon will break down and things get watery fast—fold elements together gently.
  • Letting the salad sit longer than 30 minutes can make it soggy, so only dress just before serving.
03 -
  • I learned to always zest the lime before juicing—it’s almost impossible the other way around.
  • Let guests add extra Tajin at the table so everyone gets their perfect level of zing.
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