5.0 from 54 votes
Balsamic Watermelon Cucumber Salad
🥗🍉🥒 An EASY, healthy, and light salad with watermelon, cucumber, arugula, goat cheese, candied nuts, and drizzled with a homemade balsamic glaze! A PERFECT summer salad for those days when it's too hot to cook!
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 2
Calories: 893 kcal
Course:
Side Dish , Salad
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
Balsamic Glaze
- 500 milliliters balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup granulated sugar divided
Salad
- 3 cups watermelon seeded and cubed (I recommend seedless, firm watermelon)
- 1 large cucumber or English cucumber peeled and cubed
- 1 cup arugula 1 heaping handful
- ⅓ cup goat cheese crumbled or as desired
- ⅓ cup candied nuts (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- To a high-sided medium/large kettle (use one bigger than you think you need), add the vinegar, 1/2 cup sugar, and heat over medium to medium-high until mixture boils and can sustain a fast rolling boil.
- Boil for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until reduced by about 80% and has thickened and is syrupy; stir intermittently and keep an eye on it so it doesn't bubble over.
- When the sauce looks like it's about halfway done, taste the sauce, and if it's too vinegary and bitter for you, add part of or all of the remaining sugar. I personally use almost 1 cup. Sauce will thicken up more as it cools.
- To a medium bowl, add all the remaining ingredients, stir to combine, and drizzle as much of the balsamic reduction as desired.
- Salad is best consumed fresh, although extra glaze will keep for many weeks airtight in the fridge.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Glaze: Alternatively, you can use store-bought balsamic glaze.
- Extra Glaze: You will have lots of balsamic reduction leftover, but it will keep for weeks in a sealed container in the fridge. As long as you're going to the trouble to make it, you may as well have extra for future recipes, because it's great drizzled over chicken, salmon, etc.
- Nutritional Stats: The stats for this recipe take into account ALL of the balsamic glaze, of which you'll only be using a tablespoon or two. The caloric count for cucumbers and watermelon is extremely low, probably 25 calories for a serving. Adding a bit of cheese and nuts will increase the values, but again, it's all coming from the balsamic glaze, which you can of course either omit, or save and use in the coming weeks.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1salad
Calories
893kcal
(45%)
Carbohydrates
171g
(57%)
Protein
12g
(24%)
Fat
16g
(25%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
Cholesterol
17mg
(6%)
Sodium
289mg
(12%)
Potassium
788mg
(23%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
160g
(320%)
Vitamin A
2033IU
(41%)
Vitamin C
25mg
(28%)
Calcium
186mg
(19%)
Iron
4mg
(22%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 893
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1salad | |
| Calories | 893kcal | 45% |
| Carbohydrates | 171g | 57% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 16g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.3g | 2% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 17mg | 6% |
| Sodium | 289mg | 12% |
| Potassium | 788mg | 17% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 160g | 320% |
| Vitamin A | 2033IU | 41% |
| Vitamin C | 25mg | 28% |
| Calcium | 186mg | 19% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.