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Spicy Watermelon Salad with Tajin and Lime

Spicy watermelon salad with Tajin and lime is a juicy, ice-cold mix of cubes, paper-thin onion, and fresh mint with chili-lime seasoning on top. Toss quickly for a crisp bite—serve immediately so the watermelon stays firm and the Tajin looks vivid.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 260
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Salad Base
  • 6 cup seedless watermelon cubed into 1½-inch chunks
  • 0.5 red onion very thinly sliced
  • 1 jalapeño thinly sliced; remove seeds for less heat
  • 0.25 cup fresh mint leaves roughly torn
  • 0.25 cup fresh cilantro leaves
Dressing & Finishing
  • 2 lime limes juiced (about 3 tbsp)
  • 1.5 tbsp Tajin Clásico seasoning
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 flaky sea salt pinch
  • 0.5 cup cotija cheese optional, crumbled

Method
 

Prep the salad
  1. Cut the seedless watermelon into 1½-inch cubes and place them in a wide, shallow serving bowl or platter. Pat lightly with a paper towel if very wet to keep the dressing from becoming watery.
  2. Slice the red onion paper-thin. If raw onion is too sharp, soak the slices in ice water for 5 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
  3. Slice the jalapeño into thin rounds and taste to choose how many rings to add based on your heat tolerance. Remove seeds for milder heat.
Make the lime-honey dressing
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice and honey until combined. Keep whisking just until smooth so the dressing coats evenly.
Assemble and finish
  1. Drizzle the lime-honey mixture over the watermelon. Toss gently to coat—do not over-mix or the watermelon will break down.
  2. Scatter the red onion, jalapeño rounds, fresh mint, and cilantro evenly over the top. Spread them so every bite has sweet, tangy, and cool herbs.
  3. Dust generously with Tajin Clásico directly over the top and do not stir it in. Let it sit on the surface so the chili-lime powder is visible and impactful.
  4. Add a pinch of flaky sea salt over the top. If using cotija, scatter it over last.
  5. Taste and adjust by adding more Tajin for heat, more lime for brightness, or more honey to support sweetness. Serve immediately while cold, and dress/serve within 15 minutes for best texture.

Notes

Serve immediately for the best texture; the salad doesn’t hold well, so aim to dress and eat within 15 minutes. Refrigerate only if needed, but expect the watermelon to soften. No freezing. For a dairy-light option, skip the cotija cheese while keeping the Tajin-lime flavor fully intact.