Here's a recipe for a Mexican flavors-inspired watermelon salad. It has watermelon, radish, cotija, and lime in it -- super refreshing for a summer dinner or picnic. The recipe is very scalable and can be made for as little as 2 hungry people and as many as you want.
The watermelon's gastronomic history and use in Mexican cuisine
The watermelon originated in West Africa, and we see references to the watermelon in ancient texts. The Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, described the watermelon as a refrigerant maxime—an "extremely cooling food"—in his first-century encyclopedia, Historia Naturalis. Because the watermelon has such a high water content percentage, it served as a hydration source for peoples in the desert. Also, if stored in a cool/dry place, could stay edible for weeks to months.
The watermelon reached Southern Europe via the Moors, where the warm weather in the south of Spain allows the crop to flourish. European colonists and African slaves brought the berry (yeah.. it's technically a berry) to the New World. It's reported that watermelons were cultivated in Florida and warmer/southern regions as early as the 16th century.
In addition, it's worth noting that here in the US, watermelons were grown by free Black people in the 19th century, and were a symbol of slavery abolition.
Now, Mexico is the #2 exporter of watermelons in the world. Watermelons have a unique place in Mexican culinary history. Moreover, because the colors of the watermelon (green, white, and red) are the same as the Mexican flag (green, white, red), el tricolor represents a sense of Mexican pride and nationalism.
Frida Kahlo also incorporated watermelons into one of her more famous still life paintings, titled "Sandias". Also known as "Viva La Vida."
Now we see a lot of watermelon centric recipes in Mexican cuisine center on it being paired with a slightly savory spice like Tajin, or watermelon being distilled into an agua fresca.
What makes this watermelon salad recipe so good
This watermelon salad recipe is....
- Cool and crunchy
- Refreshing and hydrating
- Zesty and citrusy from the lime
- A bit savory with the cotija + olive oil + salt and pepper
- Easy to scale from a small dish to a picnic platter
How to make a Mexican inspired watermelon salad
This recipe is honestly barely a recipe, haha. Here's what you need to make a Mexican inspired watermelon salad, for about 4 people:
- ½ a small watermelon or ¼ of a big one
- ½-1 cup of cotija, crumbled
- 3 radishes, sliced thinly - you could also use jicama or cucumbers
- A drizzle of olive oil
- A squeeze of lime to taste
- A sprinkle of chopped mint
- A bit of flaky salt if that’s your vibe
Finally, toss and combine on a platter. That's it!
Mexican Watermelon Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups watermelon cubed
- ½ cup cotija crumbled
- 3 radishes sliced thinly - you could also use jicama or cucumbers
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lime's juice at least
- ½ ounce chopped mint
- 1 teaspoon flaky salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a big salad bowl or on a platter, and toss to combine
- Serve!