Five Fruit and Quinoa Salads to Put on Repeat

We were all so quinoa crazy a few years about and I’m bringing back the love! Check out these beautiful, nutritious and amazingly nutritious fruit and quinoa salads. Most have enough protein to make a balanced and satisfying meal, but you can also add your favorite protein — like shrimp, salmon, or beef – to the toss!

A collection of quinoa salads featuring fruit that will add beauty and nutrition to your plate!

Actually, I’ve never given up my love for this ancient grain (which is actually a seed) that boosts your diet with  nutrients like B-vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, vitamin E, and fiber. Additionally, quinoa is also one of only a few plant foods considered a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids.

Transform plain quinoa into something to celebrate for the holiday season! Pomegranate, orange segments and pistachios bejewel this quick, easy and nourishing vegetarian salad that is equally beautiful for a dinner party or quick lunch!

Pomegranate Orange Quinoa Salad: This festive quinoa salad featuring pomegranate and orange is lovely for seasonal celebrations but can be made year-round for weeknight dinners thanks to those little tubs of pomegranate arils. The simple creamy dressing has a vinaigrette vibe but with Greek yogurt and date syrup for even more flavor.

Hydrate and invigorate with this juicy fresh salad featuring watermelon, raspberries and quinoa! The zingy ginger mint dressing is amazing. It’s a stunningly colorful side dish or add shrimp or salmon for a main dish.

Watermelon Raspberry Quinoa Salad with Ginger Mint Dressing: This fully-loaded watermelon quinoa salad is made hearty enough for a full meal with quinoa, sunflower seeds, feta cheese, loads of greens, juicy watermelon and raspberries. The Ginger Mint Dressing is so aromatic and invigorating, and easy to make in a personal blender.

Clementine Quinoa Kale Salad with Minty Poppy seed Dressing

Clementine Quinoa Kale Salad with Minty Poppy Seed Dressing: Clementines or any other type of “easy-peeler” tangerines (like Halos, Cuties, etc.) are fun to eat – even in a fruit quinoa salad! Get your boost of vitamin C (from the citrus + kale) in this fiber-loaded salad.

Maple Pecan Raisin Malasses Crusted Steak and Butternut Squash Quinoa

Maple, Pecan, Raisin Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad:  While this quinoa salad might be screaming fall, it’s a taste sensation to make year-round. If you can’t source butternut squash, you can usually find a bag of cubed quash in the freezer aisle. If you’re not a fan of raisins (but trust me, that add so much YUM to this recipe), they can be left out.

Super Clean Strawberry Apple Spinach Salad is perfect for your next party, picnic or potluck . .it's also great for meal-prepping for healthy lunches. Walnuts and spinach add extra texture, heart-healthy fats and protein.

Super Clean Strawberry Spinach Quinoa Salad with Zingy Vinaigrette: This strawberry quinoa salad is crave-worthy with baby spinach tossed into nutty quinoa and walnuts. It’s all balanced with a subtle sweet-tart flavor thanks to juicy berries and crispy Granny Smith apples and zingy vinaigrette

Super Clean Strawberry Apple Spinach Salad is perfect for your next party, picnic or potluck . .it's also great for meal-prepping for healthy lunches. Walnuts and spinach add extra texture, heart-healthy fats and protein.

Abs-olutely Watermelon Workout for Core

Note: This post is sponsored by National Watermelon Board. Visit them at Watermelon.org for everything watermelon!

You don’t need to hit the gym or invest in expensive equipment when you use this surprising tool for the ultimate at-home core workout – a personal-sized watermelon!

Exercising and watermelon both make me feel happy and like I’m taking care of my health. And, keeping your core strong is so important as you get older, a strong core helps improve balance and stability, minimizes fatigue and the chance for injury, and keeps you functionally fit to keep on doing fun things.

Pick a smaller, “mini” watermelon about 4 to 6-pounds and 10 to 15-centimeters in diameter. This is the typical range for personal-sized watermelon sold year-round in most local markets. Weigh your watermelon to make sure, heavier isn’t necessarily better in this core workout.

After the workout, you can slice your watermelon and enjoy it as a post-workout snack – your body will benefit from the hydration (watermelons are 92% water), vitamin C, natural carbs to replenish energy, and other beneficial nutrients that work in harmony with a balanced diet.

Watch this short video which shows the core exercises!

Try these Core Exercises with a Personal-sized Watermelon

(Repeat for 2 to 4 sets, depending on fitness level)

Kneeling Lift to Bend: Kneel with one leg forward. Set watermelon in front of kneeling leg, even with foot on other side. Reach with both hands to pick and raise overhead in slow reverse chop motion. The bend at side, stretching obliques, before returning to top. Lower watermelon and repeat. Repeat 10 times each side.

Bicycle with Watermelon Weave: Sitting on bottom with legs and torso extended into a bike crunch position, hold watermelon in left hand. As you bend your right knee, bringing watermelon towards your chest, and pass the watermelon under the leg as it’s bending Grab the watermelon with your right hand, then switch leg positions and reverse the move to return to the start.  

Prone Legs-Up Toe Touch: Lay on back with legs straight up in air. Hold watermelon with both hands and lift arms and torso upward, while contracting abdominals, to reach toes with watermelon or come as close as possible. Lower to the ground. Repeat 10 times.

Plank Roll Outs: Get into a straight-arm plank position with watermelon near one hand. Roll watermelon backward toward feet while you pike upward into a downward dog position. Next roll the watermelon forward to the start position. Repeat 5 times, each side.

Around the World: Kneel on both legs and hold watermelon in front of you. Pass the watermelon from the right hand to left hand and then around back of body coming back to start position. Note: you can do this exercise standing up, but if the watermelon drops, it could break. Repeat 10 times going each way.

Superman Watermelon Lift: Lay on stomach, with legs straight behind you and arms straight in front (watermelon between hands). Squeeze glutes to protect lower back and slowly lift legs up off the ground as far as you can while at the same time also lifting chest up and watermelon up with arms – hold for a few seconds.  If this is too difficult, focus on the leg and chest lifting while keeping watermelon on floor and rolling it back and forth between hands. Repeat for 10 holds.

Watermelon Russian Twists: Sit upright with glutes on mat and feet lifted off ground. Rotate your torso from side to side, holding watermelon in both hands and moving to each side of body.   Repeat for 10 twists on each side.

Sweet Smiles: Watermelon is a Happy Fruit

This post is sponsored by National Watermelon Promotion Board.

There are no bad vibes in my book when it comes watermelon. Watermelon is a happy fruit! It’s refreshing, hydrating, sweet, a source of beneficial energy for my runs and workouts – and at the root of a bumper crop of my life’s joyful moments and everyday positive experiences.

Watermelon Slice of Happy Project

If I had to name one food that made me feel all-around happy, it would most definitely be WATERMELON! And, based on the juice dripping off all y’all’s chins, I know I’m not alone in that jumbo-sized declaration of love. In fact, a recent study funded by NWPB*, found that 100% of consumers say that watermelon makes them feel happy.

What did people say when I asked them, “Does watermelon make you happy?”

And, 81% felt like watermelon was a comfort food. I’m like “heck yeah” to that stat – not many comfort foods have just 80 calories per two-cup serving, not to mention zero fat, and a host of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients. Check the USDA Nutrition Facts for the exact breakdown.

Additionally, the study revealed that 82% of respondents felt that watermelon boosted their mood. Just last year, I shared a post about How Watermelon Can Boost Mood. My reasons included: 1) high water content in watermelon supports overall wellness; 2) 25% Daily Value of vitamin C, per serving, supports tissue growth and recovery; 3) watermelon can be used as “equipment” in your workout and exercise is a good way to lift your mood; 4) watermelon is perfectly sized for sharing and showing care toward others – that’s intrinsically satisfying; 5) and watermelon can be a dessert that is unrefined and naturally sweet – a smart choice that still makes you smile!

Learn the ways watermelon can boost your mood and help you feel happy.
Also, I always feel happy knowing that, in addition to feeding my family a wholesome food that I am making an economical selection in the produce department. Pound-for-pound, ounce-for-ounce, a watermelon has the biggest bang for the buck – and you can eat the entire watermelon, including flesh, juice, seeds and rind!

A few happy and creative recipes I’ve made using bits and pieces of the watermelon that might otherwise have been discarded are:
Cinnamon Churro Watermelon Rind Fries recipe

Cinnamon Churro Watermelon Rind Fries – Take the leftover rind, slice it up, dust with cinnamon and your sweetener of choice before popping in the air-fryer. Serve with simple vanilla or honey yogurt as a dipping sauce! Easy and economical

Watermelon Gazpacho! Refreshing and just for you! Whip up a single-serving batch of this hydrating, delicious cold soup made with watermelon, cucumbers and tomato -- no-cook and ready in minutes.

Watermelon Gazpacho with Feta and Herbs –This is a quick and easy, single-serve blender recipe that’s featured in my Cooking for One for Dummies cookbook that published in March 2023. To be honest, is a way I use up watermelon that has been sitting for a few days in my fridge and needs to be used up STAT.

watermelon juice is a hydrating, sweet, natural beverage that is easy and economical to make at home.

Watermelon Juice: Most folks either buy expensive, pressed watermelon juice from their grocer OR use a blender and drain off all the pulp. However, my hack in this post shows you how you can actually DRAIN off a large quantity while cutting and storing without compromising the pieces you want to eat.

More than half of respondents from the 2022 NWPB study reported they feel better knowing that they’ve purchased food that can be used in multiple meals and/or recipes. Watermelon definitely has your back on that! Check out the amazing, creative recipe collection at Watermelon.org for all sorts of juicy, yummy, sweet and savory inspiration.

*NWPB Consumer Study 2022

Watermelon Raspberry Quinoa Salad with Ginger Mint Dressing

Summer is nearly here and this Watermelon, Raspberry, & Quinoa Salad with Ginger Mint Dressing is an easy-fix for upcoming pool parties, picnics and patio dining.

 Fully-loaded, this watermelon salad won’t leave you hunger a few minutes later. It’s actually quite hearty with quinoa, sunflower seeds, feta cheese, loads of greens, juicy watermelon and raspberries.

Pin this for later!

Why I love this watermelon salad, other that the amazing taste: Fresh ingredients to fuel my adventures, no cooking, stunning as a side dish but hearty enough for a main course (especially if you add some shrimp or salmon!).

I love how watermelon is a refreshing and delicious addition to salads, providing a burst of sweetness, hydration and nutrients.  It’s also a smart way to use up leftover watermelon, if you purchased a big one! By the way, check out this post on how to efficiently cut up a jumbo-sized watermelon fast.

Ginger Mint Dressing, so fresh and fragrant!

Let’s talk about the fresh, invigorating, and aromatic dressing. Ginger Mint Dressing is so simple to make with just a quick blast in a personal-sized blender. It’s also a smart way to tackle mint that likes to take over gardens this time of year. Now and then, I pull out my juice to make Ginger Juice (and store in small portions in my freezer). Check out my tips on Juicing Ginger Root. However, if I’m “out of stock,’ for convenience I just rely on bottled ginger juice or the little ginger juice shots you can buy in the fresh juice section of the produce department. 

This Ginger Mint Dressing also makes an amazing marinade for fish and shrimp.

Enjoy!

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

5 from 5 votes
Hydrate and invigorate with this juicy fresh salad featuring watermelon, raspberries and quinoa! The zingy ginger mint dressing is amazing. It’s a stunningly colorful side dish or add shrimp or salmon for a main dish.
Watermelon, Raspberry & Quinoa Salad with Ginger Mint Dressing.
Prep Time
15 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

Hydrate and invigorate with this juicy fresh salad featuringwatermelon, raspberries and quinoa! The zingy ginger mint dressing is amazing.It’s a stunningly colorful side dish or add shrimp or salmon for a main dish.

Course: entree salad
Keyword: ginger, mint, quinoa, raspberries, summer, watermelon
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 3 cups baby spinach leaves
  • 1 cup microgreens of choice
  • 2 cups chopped watermelon
  • ½ cup fresh raspberries
  • 1 cup prepared quinoa
  • ¼ cup crumbled feta
  • ¼ cup sunflower seeds
Dressing
  • 1 2- oz bottle ginger juice like Suja
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbs lemon juice
  • ¼ cup mint leaves
Instructions
  1. Add salad ingredients to bowl. Then add all dressing ingredients to small blender and process until mostly smooth. If you don’t have ginger juice, you can sub watermelon juice (from the watermelon prep run off) and a ½ teaspoon of finely grated ginger. Pour dressing over salad and gently toss. Best eaten same day as dressed – serves 4 as a side.

Watermelon Salad with Chamoy Dressing + More Spring Recipes

Note: This post is sponsored by Watermelon.org. However, all opinions, comments and enthusiasm remain my own.

Hello to spring and howdy to watermelon salads! No more hot and heavy soups for supper, the weather is warming up, my mood is lightening up, and my plate is filling up with all the beautiful produce of the season!

Watermelon Salad, watermelon salad recipe, chamoy watermelon, chamoy on watermelon summer fruit salad, summer salad recipes with fruit, cutting watermelon
Making a savory-sweet watermelon salad is life . . . literally life, seeing as how many health benefits watermelon offers including vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients. Watermelon is cholesterol-free, fat-free, sodium-free, and has 80 calories per 2-cup serving. It contains nutrients that support heart health, like magnesium (6% DV) and phosphorus (2% DV). Each serving also has 25% DV of vitamin C which is important for growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body.  Perhaps my favorite thing about watermelon (other than the sweet taste and natural energy it provides for my training) is that 92% water which helps me stay hydrated.

Other reason to incorporate watermelon salad recipes into your life is that a watermelon salad is a quick and easy meal fix and completely customizable to suit your personal preferences.
ways to cut watermelon
Quick and Easy. It is NOT as hard or time consuming as you might think to cut a large watermelon. That’s a common objection I enjoy overcoming with friends, family and anyone who gives me drama about cutting up a watermelon. In fact, I’ve done a whole article and video showing my technique for cutting up a large watermelon in about 5 minutes.



If you still are intimidated or unmotivated about cutting watermelon for salads, buying it pre-cut in the produce department is the next best way. While this pre-prepped route is more expensive, you typically get very sweet melon as the produce department tends to pick the best watermelons for their point-of-purchase, prepped containers.
Check out this 30 second tutorial!
mix and match watermelon salad ideas
Pin this for later!

Customizable. Watermelon salads can be what YOU want them to be. Today, I’m sharing a recipe for Watermelon Spinach Salad with Chamoy . . .. it totally suits my love for spicy-sweet things and brings me joy.  Chamoy is a Mexican condiment made from dried apricots, chile de arbol, hibiscus flowers, citrus, and other seasonings . . . and trust me, chamoy on watermelon is incredibly tasty and lights up every part of your taste senses.

For my chamoy watermelon recipe and watermelon salad recipes in general, it’s simple to swap out all the salad ingredients (except watermelon) for the items you prefer or have on hand. For example, instead of queso fresco, use blue cheese. Instead of pumpkin seeds, use pecans. Instead of Chamoy, use a balsamic vinaigrette. You get the idea. In fact, I’ve made a pin-ready chart (above) to give you inspiration for endless mix-and match watermelon salads.

Pin this for later!

Tips for Watermelon with Chamoy Salad

  • The yellow flowers are dandelions foraged from my lawn.  All parts of this “weed” plant (except stems which taste bitter) are beneficial to consume, you can even use dandelion leaves in place of or addition to the spinach.
  • Dried apricots are tossed in the salad to enhance the apricot in the chamoy, but any other dried fruit would be equally delicious.
  • Chamoy can be found in the bottled condiment area of Mexican markets or larger grocery stores. You can also make your own (time consuming) or order it online. The consistency varies from very thick to very thin – look for something in the middle. If too thick, thin down a bit with juice from your watermelon! 
  • Leftover chamoy is delicious used as a rim on cocktails or mocktails – watermelon margarita, anyone?!
  • Instead of the wedge presentation, the salad can feature watermelon cubes or watermelon balls
  • The recipe is easy to scale up or down, and you don’t have to get hung up on precise measurements
  • This salad is best consumed right after making to prevent wilting and sogginess..

Find more summer salad recipes with fruit (and watermelon) at The Fit Fork:

watermelon chia summer salad thefitfork.com

Watermelon Quinoa Salad with Salsa

watermelon tomato tajin salad thefitfork.com

Watermelon Jicama Salad with Tajin Honey Vinaigrette

grilled watermelon with balsamic cherry salsa

Grilled Watermelon Wedge Salad with Balsamic Cherry Salsa

And, Watermelon.org always has creative, delicious, nutritious watermelon salads (and 100s of other watermelon recipes).  Here are three fruit and vegetable salads with watermelon that I’ve tried and LOVED:

5 from 4 votes
WATERMELON SPINACH SALAD with CHAMOY
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

 A big,juicy wedge is dressed up with pepita seeds, crumbled queso fresco, choppedapricots and chamoy sauce, a spicy-sweet Mexican condiment. It’s an amazingwatermelon salad to kick off Spring break, picnics in the park, runningoutside, and dipping toes in the pool season!

Course: entree salad, Side Dish
Keyword: chamoy, mexican food, tex mex, watermelon
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 wedge watermelon about ¼ to1/8 watermelon, depending on size
  • 2 cups chopped watermelon
  • 6 cups baby spinach
  • ½ cup dried apricots chopped
  • ½ cup crumbled queso fresco
  • ¼ cup Chamoy sauce*
  • ¼ cup pepita seeds
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
  • Optional Edible flowers such as pansies or dandelion
Instructions
  1. To make watermelon wedge, slice watermelon in half lengthwise, then slice that half lengthwise. This will give you a one-quarter wedge. If your watermelon is quite large, you may want to slice this quarter in half (to create a 1/8 watermelon wedge). I guestimate that the total amount of watermelon in the wedge is about 4 cups.
  2. Chop up another 2 cups of watermelon in a bite-size pieces.
  3. Sprinkle washed, dried spinach on platter, place watermelon wedge on top.
  4. Spoon extra watermelon on spinach, around wedge.
  5. Drizzle Chamoy sauce over top of wedge and onto greens.
  6. Sprinkle chopped apricots, crumbled queso fresco, seeds and cilantro on top of wedge and around salad.
  7. If desired, garnish with edible flowers for maximum spring-time effect!
Recipe Notes

*Chamoy sauce is a Mexican condiment sweet-spicy-salty condiment that can be found in most larger grocery stores, from an international market, or you can google the recipe and make your own (it usually features soaked dried: apricots and prunes, hibiscus leave, chile peppers, citrus and more).