If you’re looking for a fun salsa, something easy and perfect for summer, check out Watermelon Peach Salsa. It’s like summer in a bowl! It’s cool. It’s refreshing. It’s bright. It’s crave-worthy!
Watermelon Peach Salsa
The play on texture and flavor and the contrast between the Watermelon and the Peach is what makes this salsa so compelling!
About Watermelon Peach Salsa:
The watermelon adds a little crisp texture and sweet juiciness to the salsa, so perfect for any hot summer day, while the peaches perfume the salsa with their fragrant sweetness.
The lime sweeps in with a little tang to cut through the sweet and that sweet-sour vibe is so appealing. It’s the kind of salsa that makes you appreciate the first bite and the next and the next.
The red onion adds a crispy bite that contrasts beautifully with the fruit, and the jalapeno chimes in with spice. Only enough to add interest – not enough to cause any distress!
Watermelon Peach Salsa
Ways to Serve Watermelon Peach Salsa:
I have to restrain myself from sneaking spoonfuls! We use it in several ways at our house:
- As a dip: You’ll want to go there! Whether you’re hanging out on the deck or having a movie night, pull out the tortilla chips & go to town.
- On grilled fish or shrimp tacos: Pile on the spoonfuls; the sweet, tangy salsa complements fish or shrimp and the lime with fish or seafood! Fantastic.
- With grilled chicken breast or pork tenderloin: This salsa will upgrade anything grilled! We love it on these Baja Chicken Tacos and my Jerk Chicken Breasts.
- A salad bowl: We scooped the remainder of those tacos and veg into a bowl for a fun salad. There are so many possibilities!
- In a grains bowl: Make it a light and healthy meal with this fruity salsa added to grains and greens.
This salsa is especially good with flavors from the American Southwest, Latin America, and/or the Caribbean.
Making Watermelon Peach Salsa:
This is just a snap to make. We prefer the watermelon and peaches finely diced, and the jalapeno almost minced.
Watermelon:
- Cut in half, then quarters; remove the rind from one of the quarters.
- Slice smallish, about 3/8″ to 1/2″ pieces. Stack those slices and cut through them all at once. Push the resulting “sticks” together and cut across into a dice. If your watermelon is very juicy, toss it into a strainer for a few minutes.
Peaches:
- I don’t peel the peaches but they do have a slight fuzziness that can give some people the Skeevies. In that case, either peel (or maybe sub in a nectarine.)
- To peel the peaches, cut a shallow “x” on the bottom and drop them into boiling water for 1 minute. Fish them out with a slotted spoon and place them in ice water to stop the cooking process.
- The skin will stand out around the cuts. Catch a corner of the skin between your finger and a knife and it is easy to pull that skin right off. This works for any stone fruit and tomatoes, too.
Lime:
- Lots of lime is key to this salsa. Use the juice and the zest.
- The more intense zest helps to carry the flavor.
Jalapeno:
- Use a very fine dice so the flavor weaves throughout the salsa.
- Sub in a serrano for more heat, habanero if you dare.
Just a mention, all the scraps from this salsa, except the red onion, can be used to make Spa Water on a Budget.
Spa Water on a Budget
Variations:
- Any stone fruit can sub in for the peaches. Nectarines Nectarines come to mind immediately.
- Consider Honeydew or Cantaloupe for the Watermelon.
How to Store:
- Your Watermelon Peach Salsa is a fleeting thing! Enjoy it all if possible the first day.
- Store leftovers in the fridge; they’ll still taste good but the looks and texture deteriorate quickly.
- If there’s any left, consider blending it into a smoothie (maybe with a glug of tequila) if it isn’t too spicy. If there’s only a little left, add it to a smoothie for a kick.
Other Favorite Salsas:
While there are several classic Salsas on my site, here are some other fun, fruity ones; I’m sensing a theme, here!
Saving Money on Ingredients:
If discount groceries are an option in your area, these ingredients should be available at places like Aldi or Lidl. Many of these ingredients can be found on sale at the regular grocery, especially before Summer Holidays.
Watermelon:
Watermelon is cheapest during peak season (late summer) and generally on sale before holidays. Pick out the heaviest for its size, and all things being equal, buy the largest.
Avoid prepackaged, cut-up watermelon. It can be 4 to 10 times the cost of a whole watermelon, even counting waste. A package can cost more than a small watermelon.
- When choosing, check the blotch on the bottom; it should be creamy, not an anemic white.
- The watermelon should sound hollow when thumped. Hone your skills by comparing several.
- When cutting, use a clean knife and board. It will last longer in the fridge. A large rubber band easily holds plastic wrap in place.
Peaches:
Watch for sales at the grocery through the season; for the best (not necessarily the cheapest) check farmers markets, farm stands, and crated options. Quality matters.
Gently nestle in a shallow bowl on top of a thin towel away from other fruit. Don’t cover. They are ripe when they yield to a gentle touch. Once ripe, move to the fridge where they’ll last for several days.
Limes:
When choosing, weigh several and pick the heaviest. Avoid any that are browning. Bags of limes might not be the bargain they seem to be; inspect them closely.
To get the most out of your lime, grate, and freeze or dry the rind if not using. For the most juice, roll the lime on the counter, pressing heavily or microwave for about 30 seconds (or both.)
Store in the fridge in a loosely covered container on top of a cloth or paper towels; they’ll keep for weeks.
Watermelon Peach Salsa
Watermelon Peach Salsa
- Total Time: 15 minutes + rest
- Yield: about 3 1/2 cups 1x
- Category: Condiments
- Cuisine: Mexican or Southwestern
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced (3/8ths to 1/2″ or so) seedless watermelon
- 1 to 2 peaches, diced (same size)
- 1/2 red onion, diced (same size)
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
- 2 limes, zested and juiced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup cilantro or parsley, chopped
Instructions
Mix together all ingredients except the cilantro or parsley, the watermelon, peaches, onion, jalapeno, lime juice and zest and salt and pepper to taste.
Allow to sit, refrigerated, for 30 minutes if possible. Add the cilantro or parsley just before serving.
Note: if watermelon is very juicy, add it to a strainer for few minutes.
Watermelon Peach Salsa published August 2020; updated September 2024
11 thoughts on “Watermelon Peach Salsa”