Watermelon Blueberry Salad without Honey

Special diet: gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegan

Refreshing summer Watermelon Blueberry Salad with lime, mint, and pure maple syrup is a delight to both the eyes and the taste buds. Enjoy it for breakfast, as a side dish or snack, or for dessert.

Bowl of watermelon blueberry salad garnished with mint leaves and lime zest

Nothing says summer quite like watermelon. While it's hard to beat the feeling of biting into an ice cold wedge of this fruit, it's also delicious when combined with blueberries, lime, and mint.

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Why you'll love this recipe
How to cut watermelon
Ingredients
Success tips
Variations
Storing
FAQ
More ways to enjoy watermelon and blueberries
📋 Recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

You can make it in 15 minutes with only 5 ingredients.
It can be made in advance, so it's perfect for bringing with you on the go or for serving at picnics and potlucks.
It's naturally sweetened with a touch of pure maple syrup instead of honey, making it vegan-friendly.

How to cut watermelon

Collage of two images showing how to cut a watermelon into spears

I used to use a melon baller to prep watermelon for fruit salad, but I felt like I was wasting a lot of the fruit. Then I learned this easy method for cutting it into spears from How to Cut a Watermelon by Five Little Chefs.

Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise. Place it cut side down. Slice it lengthwise, then crosswise, approximately every 2 inches.
Separate the cut fruit into spears.

Now when you're ready to make the salad, take each spear and cut in into cubes. Not only is this method easy, you'll get the maximum amount of fruit from the melon.

Ingredients

To make this recipe, all you need to do is combine 5 ingredients in a bowl:

Watermelon
Blueberries
Lime (both the zest and the juice)
Pure maple syrup (a natural vegan alternative to honey)
Fresh mint leaves

Success tips

Don't forget to zest the lime before you squeeze out the juice.

While you can use your fingers or a knife to tear or chop the mint, I like to use herb scissors. This inexpensive gadget is great for quickly cutting fresh herbs while preventing bruising and discoloration.

Herb Scissors Set with 5 Blades and Cover

Stainless steel
Dishwasher safe
Ergonomic handle

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For the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

This recipe is very versatile and can be customized to suit your tastes. For variety, add in any of the following ingredients you like:

Baby spinach
Vegan feta cheese, either store-bought or make your own Tofu Feta
Sliced English or Persian cucumbers
Fresh basil leaves
A drizzle of olive oil
A few pinches of salt and/or chili powder

Bowl of fruit salad with serving spoon in it

Storing

Leftover fruit salad can be covered and refrigerated for 2 to 3 days. However, some of the liquid will release from the fruit, so you may enjoy it best the first day. Freezing is not recommended.

FAQ

Is seedless watermelon natural?

Seedless watermelon is not genetically modified. As explained in Where does seedless watermelon come from?, "a seedless watermelon is a sterile hybrid which is created by crossing male pollen for a watermelon, containing 22 chromosomes per cell, with a female watermelon flower with 44 chromosomes per cell. When this seeded fruit matures, the small, white seed coats inside contain 33 chromosomes, rendering it sterile and incapable of producing seeds."

How do you choose a good watermelon?

Look for fruit that is firm and free from dents or cuts. It should feel heavy for its size. And it will have a yellow spot on the underside where it sat on the ground.

Is watermelon rind edible?

The entire watermelon is edible, including the rind, making it a zero-waste food. It's often made into Watermelon Rind Pickles.