Summertime BBQs are my reason for the season. Chances are, you’ll likely find me somewhere near a big bowl of watermelon at any and all gatherings. But why stop at just merely chopping up a melon? This is how I came to develop this sweet-savory-tangy dream of a summertime salad, adding in another MVP: peaches.
Refreshing and super easy, this Thai watermelon and peach salad recipe walks the tightrope between sweet and spicy in just the right way. The combination of peak-summer watermelon and juicy peaches is coated in a Thai-inspired dressing that hits all the key flavor notes. There’s umami-packed fish sauce, tangy lime juice, and a trifecta of heat from fresh chiles, fresh ginger, and sambal oelek. Finished with basil, scallions, and peanuts, this salad is perfect served alongside all your favorite grilled main dishes, like shrimp, steak, or salmon.
By all means, feel free to play around with the chiles based on what you can find at the grocery store. Jalapeños are a great and easily accessible substitute for serrano chiles, but Thai bird chiles would be an ideal swap. If you like heat, use the entire pepper; if you don’t, make sure to take out the seeds.
