Love and Olive Oil

Watermelon Blueberry Salsa

Watermelon Blueberry Salsa

Two years ago, I was dining at a charming Colorado restaurant with my parents when the waiter (after hearing us discussing our latest culinary projects) brought out a special batch of salsa that he had made earlier that day. In it was a mixture of typical salsa ingredients (tomato, jalapeno, and onion) along with not-so common additions like blueberries and watermelon.

I don’t think we’ve ever eaten a bowl of salsa so quickly.

It was truly unique and perfect in its simplicity.

As he proudly told us what was in the spectacular salsa, I scribbled a few notes down on a scrap of paper, fully intending on recreating it once I got home.

Watermelon Blueberry Salsa

Fast forward two years later, and try as I might (and believe me, I tried), that scrap of paper had disappeared. One too many purse-purges and wallet reorganizations and it had no doubt made its way to the trash.

Even a truly memorable salsa was no match for my short-term memory; being that I am capable of forgetting what we ate for dinner two days ago, I should not have expected to remember a salsa that I had enjoyed two years earlier.

But yet each summer, as blueberries overflowed the market stands and watermelons weighted down our CSA baskets, I kept thinking of that salsa. And so finally, with the blueberries making their final stand before they disappear for another year, I knew I had to dig deep and try my best to remember.

I have no way of knowing if I got it exactly right; while I remembered there being cantaloupe in the salsa, my mom is adamant that there was no such thing (I think she’s right in this case, as we tested it both ways and it is truly better without). Tomato? Neither of us could recall. But after testing it both Taylor and I agreed that it provides a necessary foundation; a quick whir in the food processor together with the onion and jalapeno (rather than leaving it chunky) ensures you get a bit of sweetness and spice in every bite. It’s the perfect blending of traditional and fruit salsas: the brightness of the cilantro and spicy kick from the jalapeno are offset beautifully by the summer sweetness of the blueberries and watermelon.

This, my friends, is a salsa worth remembering.

Watermelon Blueberry Salsa

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Ingredients:

  • 4 small Roma tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 small onion, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, chopped (discard seeds for a milder salsa)
  • 1 cup diced watermelon
  • 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice (from 1 lime)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

  1. Combine tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno in the bowl of a food processor; pulse briefly or until finely chopped (do not fully liquefy). If you don’t have a food processor, you can finely chop the ingredients by hand.
  2. Transfer tomato mixture to a medium bowl; stir in watermelon, blueberries, cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
  3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
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40 Comments

  1. Looks so yummy! I’m going to make this for a 4th of July/my son’s 1st birthday party this weekend for 15 people. To be safe, I’m going to put a little salsa in a tumbler and chips in another tumbler so people can just grab their app and sit down so they’re not hovering over the apps like people tend to do! Should I triple this recipe? Please let me know ASAP- going to the store today to pick up all the ingredients! Thanks!

  2. Such a different yummy idea! Had to include it in my 4th of July post: http://www.thebeautydojo.com/10-fourth-of-july-party-ideas/

  3. just try exchanging the cilantro for mint… watermelon and mint – a marriage made in heaven..

  4. That looks delicious. I love watermelon flavors and have never tried it in a salsa!

  5. Ooooo — I love fruit in salsas. My favorite is Mango Salsa (or Pico as it gets called here in Houston); your blueberry/watermelon salsa LOOKS amazing. Now I need to find a time to make this — I WANT!

  6. This looks amazing! So clever…can’t wait to try it! : )

  7. great salsa recipe…was not cantaloupe… was yellow watermelon :)

  8. How fun! Pinned it, can’t wait to try.

  9. What a great combination!

  10. Wow I never thought watermelon could be made into salsa, interesting! Love to try out this one.

  11. Yum Yum! (:

  12. I cannot WAIT to try this!

  13. I can’t make this fast enough! Love the combination!

  14. What a nice cool and refreshing salsa!

  15. Everything here has my tasty buds tingling! Beautiful!

  16. Just by looking at these photos, I may declare this BEST salsa ever! I mean, it has my two favorite summer fruits: blueberries and watermelon!

  17. what a fun salsa recipe! I never would have thought of doing this, but now that I see it, it looks really good :)

  18. This looks phenomenal, so making this soon!

  19. I think you got it just right! No way it had cantaloupe as I am allergic to cantaloupe so I would have remembered that part for sure. I think this would be great on fish tacos, or on crackers with goat cheese. Thanks for recreating it!

  20. Hooray for fruit salsa! I think I’d have a hard time not just scooping this up with a spoon. :)

  21. How perfectly summery! Looks wonderful

  22. Wow, this looks awesome! And love the idea of watermelon and blueberries in there. Never would have thought of that, but it sounds wonderful.

  23. Wow.. this is definitely worth remembering, what an unusual combination of flavors. These days, though, I’m better off writing it down, lol!

  24. Delicious! I love the watermelon/blueberry combination!

  25. Such a great idea!!

  26. looks like a very healthy salad!!!

  27. This recipe is genius! YUM!

    xo Kayla

  28. I’ve never had a fruit salsa yet I see them all the time on pinterest… I must give it a try one of these days. Yours looks to die for (as always).

  29. Sweet fruity salsas are the best! Can’t wait to give this recipe a try.

  30. Whether or not you remembered it right, this salsa looks absolutely spectacular and I have, have, have to recreate it at home.

    I wish I had a big bowl in front of me right now.

  31. I just happen to have bought a huge watermelon 2 days ago, wondering what to do with it all – this will help!

  32. I love a good fruit salsa, esp one with an array of my favorite fruits. I could eat this with a spoon. Or overload cinnamon pita chips with a big scoop. :)

  33. A great summer appetizer or I bet it’s great over grilled salmon! XOXO

  34. Yum! This looks amazing! I love the combination of watermelon and blueberries!

  35. Salsa me.

  36. This is just summer in a bowl!

  37. This looks so fresh and delicious!!! Would be perfect for celebrating the Olympics too – red white and blue! ;)

  38. Love everything about this salsa!

  39. This looks so delicious!!!

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