Make summer fun with watermelon "tacos/pizza"

These delicious, refreshing watermelon tacos are perfect for a party or fan family moment at dinner time. Cut thin watermelon disks and garnish them to have delectable tacos or pizza!

These watermelon tacos are bold with colors and different textures, from tender to crunchy. The sweetness from watermelon goes well with notes of acidity from capers, apricots, and ginger. You'll love the tenderness of edamame while the mint and arugula give you peppery notes.

The Sun has already been scorching this side, yet we're to go through July and August! Luckily, fresh fruits like watermelon are now available. Making salads becomes almost the only meal to make.

We love eating these watermelon "tacos" because they're fun to make and enjoyable as a quick light meal.

Watermelon is already so "generously" tasty, and because it's high in water, you get satiated just by eating a few slices. I love adding other veggies or fruit to add more flavor and depth, like in this creamy salad.

Ingredients to make watermelon "tacos."

You can add so many things to your watermelon tacos, but I like keeping these simple for health purposes.

Watermelon; The star of this recipe! It's high in water which makes it a hydrating food during summer. It's rich in vitamin A, which enhances vision and immune function.

Red cabbage; Has a Stronger peppery flavor that goes well with apricots and watermelon. It's high in anthocyanins which have been highly studied for their antioxidants, antidiabetic, antiobesity, and anti-inflammatory health benefits.

Virgin olive oil; Choose a good one. I love the fruity notes of a good olive oil. It breaks the cabbage fiber if prepared ahead.

Sea salt; Just a little to balance the sugary notes from the fruits. Add it to the cabbage;

Juniper berries; Besides being very tasty (I chew them alone), they are known for their antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and treatment against intestinal issues, among others. 

Fresh apricots; I like using them for tenderness and the acidity that counteracts the sweetness of the watermelon. They're a good source of vitamin A, an anti-inflammatory micronutrient. You can substitute with peaches.

Mixed fresh herbs; I chop cilantro, mint, and parsley. Herbs add flavor and are high in micronutrients.

Nuts; They add healthy fats and bring crunchy notes. 

Black sesame; They are a good source of calcium and iron.

Tips for making watermelon taco.

Watermelon

•  Choose a firm, rounded, and small size. 
• Cut thin disks like in the photo. 
• Place the watermelon on a chopping board. DO NOT PEEL IT!
• Use a sharp kitchen knife, and once you cut through the skin, make a single move with the knife downwards. 
• Run the knife along the inner part between the flesh (pink part) and the skin to peel the watermelon.
• The disk is supposed to fold like tacos without breaking!

Red cabbage

• Get a small head or a remaining piece from a previous recipe, like in this seared red cabbage.
• Use a vegetable peeler to shred the cabbage.
• Place the juniper berries on a chopping board and crush them by pressing them hard with a knife, then chop them.
• Mix the cabbage, juniper berries, salt, and olive oil. Stir together with a spoon and set aside.

Apricots

• Get firm but ripened.
• Cut them into halves to remove the seeds, then slice them up.

Nuts and Berries

• I used Brazilian nuts and cashew nuts in this recipe for their meaty texture. Brazilian nuts are among the richest foods in selenium, which acts as an antioxidant.
• Juniper berries can be found in organic groceries or on spices and condiments aisles. Chop them before adding them to the salads.

Fresh herbs

• Use 2-3 different herbs for more flavors.
• Chop them finely after cleaning them.

Make this dressing for the tacos.

Mix lemon juice, olive oil, nutritional yeast, salt, and grated ginger in a small jar. Close the jar and shake it vigorously, then set it aside.

Troubleshooting 

Problems you may encounter with watermelon 

1. The center is too watery, and it's falling apart. It's time for watermelon lemonade, lol.
2. The flesh is rough and breaks when folded. No worries, cut thick disks and garnish them as a pizza, then cut them into small pickable triangles. 

How to serve the tacos

After having prepared every ingredient separately (mise en place), place the tacos on a platter and garnish them. 

You can also leave each person to create their tacos by topping the watermelon with whatever they like.

I love seeing my daughter compose her tacos with ingredients she usually doesn't like eating.

I hope you'll love your tacos.

• They're fun to make and bring a family together.
• They are easy and budget-friendly.
• They are unique and delicious. 

Keep eating healthier. You've got the power to heal yourself.

📖 Recipe

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Watermelon tacos

These watermelon tacos are bold with colors and different textures, from tender to crunchy. The sweetness from watermelon goes well with notes of acidity from capers, apricots, and ginger.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: entree, Salad

Cuisine: American, anti-inflammatory, European, French, Mediterranean

Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Salt, Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword: red cabbage recipe, tacos, watermelon pizza, watermelon recipe, watermelon recipes, watermelon salad

Servings: 2 people

Calories:

Author: Githu

Cost: $6

Equipment

• Chopping board
• vegetable peeler
• kitchen knife
• platter
• 4 small bowls

Ingredients

• ¼ red cabbage (from a small head)
• 4 juniper berries (optional)
• 4-5 fresh apricots
• some cilantro branches
• a few parsley branches
• a few fresh mint leaves
• a few mixed nuts
• a little salt for taste
• some freshly ground black pepper (optional)
• 1 tablespoon virgin olive oil
• 1 small round watermelon

Instructions

• Start by cleaning the cabbage, fruits, and herbs, then pat-dry them.
• Shred the cabbage using a vegetable peeler and put them in a small bowl
• Add the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir with a spoon, and set aside
• Place the juniper berries (if using) on the chopping board. Crush them by laying the knife flat on them and pressing with your hand. Chop them and set them aside.
• Slice the apricots and place them in another small bowl. Set aside.
• Chop the herbs together and put them in a separate bowl.
• Chop different nuts and set them aside in a small bowl.
• Slice off ⅛ th of the melon; it will allow you to know what the interior of the melon looks like. Judge if the flesh can be cut into thin tacos or thick disks for pizza.
• According to the type of watermelon, processed by either slicing taco disks or pizza and placing these on a platter
• Top the watermelon disks starting with cabbage, then apricots. Garnish with nuts, herbs, and junipers.
• Enjoy. Please share this recipe.

Notes

Troubleshooting with melon;

1. You could get a watermelon with granulated flesh. This can't fold; better use it for "watermelon pizza"
2. Watermelon that the flesh is disintegrating (the center is falling apart or too ripe). It could be it fell. In this case, you can't use it for both "tacos or pizza."

Seedless Icebox watermelon would be ideal.  They're small and round. Watermelons are like avocados; you never know what you have till you open it! Worry not, either as tacos or as pizza; the important is to have a good time and enjoy the recipe.