Tree Nut Free Vegan Watermelon Carpaccio
Watermelon carpaccio is one of those dishes that looks like it came out of a restaurant kitchen but comes together with almost no effort at home. Thin, jewel-bright slices of seedless watermelon are fanned across a platter, then dressed with a bright lime-and-agave vinaigrette that soaks in just enough to make every bite juicy and tangy at once. Fresh mint, torn basil, paper-thin cucumber, and red onion pile on top for layers of color and crunch that make this as stunning to look at as it is to eat. A finishing pinch of flaky sea salt pulls everything together and makes the sweetness of the watermelon absolutely pop. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of tree nuts, so there's no label-scanning or substitution required — just clean, whole-food cooking from start to finish. It's the kind of dish that disappears fast at a summer gathering, and the optional capers add a briny little surprise that keeps people guessing what makes it taste so good. Chill the platter for fifteen minutes before serving and you'll have something genuinely impressive on the table with minimal fuss.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 small seedless watermelon (about 5–6 lb), rind removed
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 1 lime)
- 1 tsp agave syrup
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
For the topping
- ½ english cucumber, very thinly sliced
- ¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves
- 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 tbsp capers, drained (optional)
For serving
- flaky sea salt, for finishing
- lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Stand the watermelon half cut-side down on the cutting board. Using a sharp chef's knife, slice the flesh into rounds about 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick, then cut each round into half-moons or leave whole if small enough to fan attractively on the platter.
- 2
Arrange the watermelon slices in overlapping, slightly fanned layers across a large serving platter, covering the surface evenly.
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