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Fresh Spicy Watermelon Salsa Recipe with Jalapeño and Cilantro

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A vibrant and refreshing summer salsa combining sweet watermelon with spicy jalapeño and fresh cilantro, perfect for quick prep and crowd-pleasing flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups seedless watermelon, cubed (about 600g or 21 oz)
  • 1 medium jalapeño, finely chopped (seeds removed for less heat)
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
  • Juice of 1 large lime (about 2 tablespoons)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (optional)
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cut about 4 cups (600g) of seedless watermelon into small, bite-sized cubes. Drain excess juice if needed.
  2. Finely chop 1 medium jalapeño pepper, removing seeds if milder heat is desired.
  3. Roughly chop ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves and finely dice ¼ cup red onion.
  4. In a mixing bowl, gently toss together the watermelon cubes, jalapeño, cilantro, and red onion without mashing the watermelon.
  5. Squeeze the juice of 1 large lime (about 2 tablespoons) over the mixture. Season with ½ teaspoon salt and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil if using. Stir lightly to combine.
  6. Let the salsa sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
  7. Taste and adjust salt, lime juice, or jalapeño as needed before serving.

Notes

For less heat, remove jalapeño seeds or substitute with milder peppers. Add cilantro just before serving to keep it fresh. Salsa can be made a few hours ahead and refrigerated, but avoid over-mixing to prevent watery texture. Optional olive oil adds richness. Try adding diced cucumber for crunch or swapping watermelon with pineapple or mango for variation.

Nutrition

Keywords: watermelon salsa, spicy salsa, jalapeño salsa, summer recipe, fresh salsa, cilantro salsa, easy appetizer, vegan salsa, gluten-free salsa

Find it online: https://sparklespoon.com/fresh-spicy-watermelon-salsa-recipe-with-jalape-n-o-and-cilantro-easy-and-perfect-for-summer/