Thai Watermelon Salad

This Thai watermelon salad is the ULTIMATE refresher salad for a warm summer evening. It has loads of crispy textures, thanks to the irresistible combination of juicy, bright, sweet watermelon & mini cucumber, plus there are bright flavours from cilantro, mint and fresh chilli. And what makes it a Thai salad? well…it’s all in the dressing. To start, there’s roasted sesame oil, soy sauce, lime juice, and fresh ginger. Plus it’s paired up with a little red onion and roasted peanuts. Ready in 15 minutes, it’s the perfect no-cook dish for hot days, backyard barbecues, or a light lunch.

Thai Watermelon Salad Ingredients

This easy Thai-style watermelon salad comes together with just a handful of vibrant, everyday ingredients:

• Watermelon & cucumber – Juicy, refreshing, and full of crunch.
• Red onion – Thinly sliced for a gentle bite.
• Fresh herbs – A mix of coriander and mint for bright, aromatic flavour.
• Lime juice & sugar – Freshly squeezed lime brings the tang, while muscovado or coconut palm sugar adds a rich, mellow sweetness — both work brilliantly together.
• Sesame oil & soy sauce – Nutty and full of umami.
• Ginger, garlic & chilli – A bold, zesty trio for that classic Thai kick.
• Roasted peanuts – Crunchy and savoury to top it all off.

How to Make Thai Watermelon Salad (So Easy!)

This fresh Thai-style salad comes together in minutes — here’s how:

1. Whisk together lime juice, sugar, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and chilli in a large bowl.
2. Add watermelon, cucumber, and red onion — toss gently to coat.
3. Let sit for 10 minutes so the flavours meld.
4. Just before serving, add mint and coriander, season with salt, and sprinkle with peanuts.

Exact measurements and details are below in the printable recipe card.

Reasons to Love This Thai Watermelon Salad

This Thai-inspired watermelon salad is the kind of recipe you’ll find yourself making on repeat all summer long — and here’s why:

• Quick to make – Just 15 minutes from start to finish, no cooking required.
• Super refreshing – Juicy watermelon, cool cucumber, and fresh herbs are the definition of summer.
• Big, bold flavours – A perfect balance of sweet, salty, tangy, and spicy.
• Beautiful on the table – Vibrant colours and fresh textures that impress every time.
• Naturally vegan & gluten-free – Delicious and inclusive for a variety of eaters.

Love this kind of easy, flavour-packed salad? You might also enjoy these refreshing favourites such as my Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint Dressing, a vibrant Couscous Salad with Watermelon, or a summery Watermelon Salad with Feta, Cucumber, Avocado & Mint. Each one is a fresh twist perfect for warm days and casual gatherings. For something a little different but just as seasonal and bright, try my Tomato Nectarine Salad with Feta — a sweet-savoury combo that’s perfect for sunny days.

Other Ways to Enjoy Thai Watermelon Salad

This Thai watermelon salad is delicious on its own, but adding jumbo prawns or shrimp takes it to the next level.

Just peel 12–16 large raw prawns (sustainably sourced if possible), toss them with a little oil, and cook in a hot pan with sesame oil, sea salt, and black pepper. Sear until just cooked through, let cool slightly, then add to the salad. Total summer perfection!

5 from 1 vote

Print

Thai Watermelon Salad

A quick and refreshing Thai watermelon salad with cucumber, herbs, and peanuts tossed in a zesty sesame-lime dressing. Ready in 15 minutes!

I’d love your feedback – just click on the stars to rate this recipe! ⭐

Course Salad

Category Thai

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 181 kcal

Autor Elle

Ingredients

• Juice of 2 limes
• 2 teaspoons muscovado raw cane sugar (or coconut palm sugar)
• 2 teaspoons roasted sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, peeled and minced
• 1 red chilli pepper, seeds removed, thinly sliced
• 1/4 whole watermelon (seedless), cubed (about 5 cups)
• 3 mini-cucumbers, sliced (or 1/2 English cucumber peeled, seeded and cut into thin slices)
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 handful fresh cilantro, leaves removed
• 1 handful fresh mint, chopped
• 3 tablespoons unsalted roasted peanuts
• coarse sea salt, to taste

Method

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the lime juice, sugar, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and chilli. Add the cubed watermelon, cucumber and red onion; toss to combine. Let sit 10 minutes to marinate.

2. To serve, add the cilantro and mint, season with salt and toss to combine. Top with peanuts and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

For a relaxing atmosphere in the kitchen I recommend my personal Elle Republic: Chilled Out Kitchen Tunes Playlist on Spotify.

Did you try this Thai Watermelon Salad recipe?

Then tag @ellerepublic on Instagram and hashtag it #ellerepublic

How did you like it?

Please let me know how this Thai Watermelon Salad recipe turned out for you! I would love to hear how you liked it. Simply rate it with the stars above ⭐or leave me a comment and rate it below.

Did you make any changes to this recipe?

If you have tips for other readers, let me know! It helps me and other readers so much. Sharing is Caring :-).

This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase through my link, Amazon will pay me a commission for it. This doesn’t cost you anything additional and the price remains the same.