Xanthan Gum Free Ginger-Lime Watermelon Radish Salad
This vibrant salad is a feast for the eyes before you even take a bite — thinly sliced watermelon radishes reveal a stunning magenta interior that makes the whole bowl look like something out of a restaurant kitchen. Paired with cool cucumber, fresh herbs, and a bright ginger-lime dressing, every forkful delivers crunch, heat, and citrusy zing in perfect balance. Many bottled dressings and store-bought salad kits sneak in thickeners and stabilizers that can be hard to spot on a label, so making your own dressing from scratch is the cleanest move. Here, the dressing comes together with just lime juice, lime zest, coconut aminos, olive oil, grated ginger, honey, and sea salt — nothing hidden, nothing unnecessary. The quick salting step softens the radishes and cucumber just enough to let them soak up all that flavor without losing their satisfying snap. Fresh cilantro and torn mint take it over the top, adding an herby brightness that ties the whole dish together. It's the kind of salad that disappears fast, so you might want to double the recipe.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 4 medium watermelon radishes (about 12 oz total), scrubbed
- 1 english cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced on the bias
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, torn
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tsp raw honey
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- 1 tsp lime zest
Instructions
- 1
Using a mandoline or a sharp knife, slice the watermelon radishes as thinly as possible — about 1/16 inch — to reveal their magenta interior. Stack the slices and cut them into half-moons or leave them whole if small.
- 2
Place the sliced radishes and cucumber in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, toss gently, and let stand for 10 minutes until the vegetables release a little moisture and soften slightly.
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