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Watermelon Sugar Snap Pea Salad

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Summer Salads never looked so delicious! This Watermelon Sugar Snap Pea Salad is everything you want when the weather is hot, and you're craving something refreshing and satiating! Juicy watermelon, edamame, crisp sugar snap peas, fresh mint, red onion, toasted pine nuts, and a homemade oil free lemon balsamic lime dressing come together to make a refreshing salad that everyone at the table will love! It’s crisp, colorful, a little bit sweet, a little savory, full of texture, and perfect for warm-weather lunches, BBQs, or easy summer entertaining.

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A Refreshing Watermelon Salad That Tastes Like Summer

Paonia in the summer feels like a movie.

Slower mornings, mountain views in every direction, dirt on your shoes from wandering through the garden, dogs passed out in the sunshine after running around all day, and somehow every vegetable tastes 10x better than anything you buy at the store. This past weekend, Eric and I visited his parents and ate our weight in fresh produce straight from the garden!

At one point, I was standing in the kitchen snacking on watermelon and sugar snap peas at the same time and literally stopped mid-bite because the combo was SO good. Which honestly makes perfect sense when you think about it. They’re both ridiculously crisp, juicy, refreshing, slightly sweet, and basically taste like peak summer. Add a little lime, fresh mint, some salty crunch, and suddenly it turns into the kind of salad you accidentally eat half of while “testing” it in the kitchen.

Why I Love This Summer Salad!

I love that this salad feels a little unexpected. Watermelon salads usually lean super savory with feta and balsamic, but this one stays bright, crunchy, fresh, and clean while still having enough protein and texture to actually feel satisfying. The edamame gives it substance, the mint makes everything taste extra cold and refreshing, and the dressing is tangy, citrusy, and just sweet enough to pull everything together perfectly.

Let’s Talk About Sugar Snap Peas!

As you may or may not know (from this Sesame Ginger Sugar Snap Pea Salad), I feel very strongly about sugar snap peas. I believe they are one of the most underrated vegetables, and I think I may be on a mission to make you all love them as much as I do.

They’re sweet, crunchy, and honestly kind of snack-like on their own. I mean, have you ever dipped them in hummus? Because it’s kinda like the savory, sweet, creamy yet crunchy dream team you’d never expect. You don’t need to do much to them because they already have that perfect crisp bite, which is exactly why they work so well in a fresh snap pea salad like this.

When thinly sliced on a sharp diagonal, snap peas turn into these pretty little green pieces that catch the dressing while still keeping their crunch. They also balance the watermelon beautifully because they add structure and freshness without making the salad feel heavy.

Ingredients for Watermelon Snap Pea Salad

With just a small handful of ingredients, this summer salad is pretty much everything you could dream up and more. Here is what you’ll need to blow your mind!

Watermelon: The juicy, sweet base of the salad. I love refrigerating my watermelon before I’m ready to cut it because it just brings an extra cold crispness. Ripe watermelon cut into cubes (using this method) ensures every bite gets a little sweetness without overwhelming the other ingredients.
Sugar snap peas: Add crunch, freshness, and that garden-sweet flavor. Thinly slicing them on a diagonal helps them blend into the salad instead of feeling too chunky.
Edamame: Essential for staying power and plant based protein. Their texture and color also add the perfect pop!
Red onion: Adds sharpness and contrast to the other flavors in the salad. If you want a slightly milder bite, soak your cut onion in water for 10 minutes to mellow the intensity.
Fresh mint leaves: Make the salad taste extra cooling and refreshing. Mint and watermelon are such a good summer combination, and here it keeps the whole dish feeling bright.
Toasted pine nuts: Bring richness and crunch. Their buttery flavor adds a little depth to an otherwise light and juicy salad.
Flaky sea salt is essential. It enhances the sweetness of the watermelon, balances the lime, and makes the whole salad taste more complete.
Lime zest and juice: Give this dressing its bright, citrusy backbone. The zest brings that fresh, aromatic lime flavor, while the juice adds acidity that makes the watermelon taste even juicier and the snap peas feel extra crisp.
White balsamic vinegar: For a soft tang and subtle sweetness without overpowering the salad. It keeps the dressing light and fresh, which is exactly what you want for a refreshing summer salad.
Maple syrup: Compliments the other ingredients while rounding out the dressing to balance the acidity. The best part about maple is that you only need a little to go a long way, and it keeps the dressing refined sugar free!

How to Make Watermelon Snap Pea Salad

It’s so easy to make a summer salad like this when the ingredients pretty much do all the heavy lifting. You don’t even need a blender for the dressing! Grab your chopping board and a sharp knife, and let’s make your new favorite salad!

Chill Your Ingredients

Start by chilling your watermelon and snap peas before you make the salad, if you can. This salad is at its absolute best when everything is cold, crisp, and refreshing. You want the watermelon juicy and chilled, and the snap peas firm enough that they still have that perfect crunch when you slice them. This is the only part that you should “plan,” it just makes the salad that much crispier and refreshing!

Build the Salad

In a large bowl, combine the cubed watermelon, thinly sliced sugar snap peas, edamame, soaked red onion, chopped mint, and toasted pine nuts. The bowl should already look bright, colorful, and very summery. You’ll see the green snap peas and mint pop against the watermelon, which is always a good sign.

How to Prep Sugar Snap Peas

If you’re new to sugar snap peas, fear not! Prepping them is simple, but the way you cut them really changes the texture of the salad. Start by trimming off any tough ends or strings if needed. Then slice the snap peas on a sharp diagonal into thin pieces. This gives the salad that pretty, delicate look while making the snap peas easier to eat. For this recipe, thinner slices are best because they mix beautifully with the watermelon, edamame, and herbs. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself snacking on them as you chop. I like to buy more than I need for this exact reason!

Make the Balsamic Lime Dressing

I say “make,” but essentially you’re just throwing all the dressing ingredients over the salad components and tossing. You could add the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or jar, and whisk them together if you wanted to save some of the dressing or planned on prepping this salad to enjoy later.

Toss Gently and Finish

I suggest tossing the salad with the dressing ingredients right before serving so that the watermelon stays intact. If you’re making this salad and the dressing separately, drizzle before serving. Let it sit for a minute or two so the watermelon juices mix with the dressing. That’s when everything gets extra good! The dressing gets infused with the sweet juice from the watermelon, and everything gets light, citrusy, slightly sweet, and full of flavor. Finish with extra mint, flaky salt, black pepper, and another squeeze of lime if desired.

How to Serve Sugar Snap Pea Salad

Serve this baby chilled and immediately for the best texture and flavor! I find that summer salads really aren’t the type to be prepped far in advance because summer ingredients tend to be a little more delicate and time sensitive. This Watermelon Sugar Snap Pea Salad is the ideal salad to serve up alongside grilled tofu, veggie burgers, tacos, or anything coming off the grill! It also works beautifully as part of a bigger spread with pasta salads, layered salads, dips, and fresh fruit. If you’re bringing it to a BBQ or picnic, keep the dressing separate until right before serving so everything stays crisp and fresh.

Tips for the Best Watermelon Salad

Use cold watermelon. It makes the whole salad more refreshing and helps the texture hold up.
Cut the watermelon into small cubes so you get a little in every bite without the pieces being too big. Use this tutorial for the easiest way to cut your watermelon!
Slice the snap peas thinly on a diagonal. This makes the salad easier to eat and helps the dressing coat everything evenly.
Soak the red onion if you have time. Even 10 minutes in cold water softens the bite and makes it much more balanced.
Add the dressing right before serving. Watermelon releases liquid as it sits, so this keeps the salad crisp and vibrant.
Finish with flaky salt. Watermelon loves salt, and it makes all the flavors pop.

Why This is the Best Summer Salad!

It’s summer in a bowl, and in my opinion, the best summer salad is the kind of salad that feels effortless, exciting and vibrant. It’s cold, crisp, juicy, bright, and so easy to throw together. There’s no cooking, no complicated prep, and no heavy dressing. The addition of edamame adds plant-based protein, which is a major plus! Everything is gluten free, oil free, refined sugar free which makes it ideal for serving to a large crowd. Last but not least, its also a refreshing change from the typical leafy salad, there’s a whole lot of crunch and texture going on in each bite!

Watermelon Sugar Snap Pea Salad FAQ

Can I make this snap pea salad ahead of time? Yes, but it’s best to keep the dressing separate until just before serving. You can prep the watermelon, snap peas, edamame, onion, and mint ahead of time, then toss everything together when you’re ready to eat.

How long does watermelon salad last in the fridge? Once dressed, it’s best enjoyed the same day. If stored separately from the dressing, the ingredients can last about 2–3 days in the fridge, but drain excess liquid from the watermelon before dressing.

Can I use frozen edamame? Yes. Thaw the edamame first, then pat it dry before adding it to the salad. It’s an easy way to add protein and texture.

Can I use a different nut instead of pine nuts? Literally any nut will be amazing in this salad. Slivered almonds, chopped cashews, pistachios or even pumpkin seeds if you want to go nut free. All you’re looking for is a little extra crunch to balance everything!

Can I make this without onion? Totally, if red onion isn’t your thing, you can skip it or use thinly sliced green onion for a milder flavor.

Did you make this recipe?

I would love to hear your experience! How did you serve it? How quickly did you eat it? DID YOU LOVE IT?! Leave a rating and review below and let me know!

Other Amazing Summer Salads to Try Next:

If you loved this refreshing summer salad, try one of these salads next:

Checkerboard Cubed Watermelon Salad

Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Ginger Salad Dressing

Sesame Tempeh Cucumber Boats

Jackie Akerberg

Author of the Clean Vegan Cookbook, Food Blogger and Recipe Developer from Des Moines, Iowa.

Jackfruitful Kitchen has proudly been featured in Forks Over Knives, Vegan Bowls, Vegan Food and Living, and DSM Magazine.

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Watermelon Sugar Snap Pea Salad

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Prep Time 20

Total Time 20

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish

Calories: 195

Equipment

knife & cutting board

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

4 cups watermelon, cut into small cubes
2 cups sugar snap peas, thinly sliced on a sharp diagonal
1 cup shelled edamame
¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced, soaked for 10 minutes
⅓ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
¼ cup toasted pine nuts
flaky sea salt + extra lime wedges for serving

Balsamic Lime Dressing Ingredients

1 large lime, zested and juiced
1 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp maple syrup
pinch of flaky salt and black pepper

Method

Start by chilling your watermelon and sugar snap peas beforehand if possible. This salad is at its absolute best when everything is super cold, crisp, and refreshing.
In a large bowl, combine the watermelon, sugar snap peas, edamame, red onion, mint, and toasted pine nuts.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad right before serving and toss gently so the watermelon stays intact. Let it sit for a minute or two so the watermelon juices mix with the dressing, creating the most insanely fresh, light, citrusy dressing.
Finish with extra mint, flaky salt, black pepper, and another squeeze of lime if desired.

Nutrition

Serving 1servingCalories 195kcalCarbohydrates 28gProtein 7gFat 7gSaturated Fat 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat 3gMonounsaturated Fat 2gSodium 7mgPotassium 550mgFiber 5gSugar 17gVitamin A 1568IUVitamin C 48mgCalcium 86mgIron 3mg

*Macros are provided as an estimate for convenience. Your final numbers will vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and how you portion the recipe.

Did you make this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

Watermelon Sugar Snap Pea Salad

A Refreshing Watermelon Salad That Tastes Like Summer

Why I Love This Summer Salad!

Let’s Talk About Sugar Snap Peas!

Ingredients for Watermelon Snap Pea Salad