Watermelon salad bowls are the perfect nourishing, gluten free meal. Coconut cream, jasmine rice, watermelon and raisins combine to create an amazing bowl of nourishment! Light, refreshing, and delicious!
Is it summer yet? Um, well, it feels like it here. Northerners, don’t hate me. I know you just got snow. EEK! But really, it was almost 90 degrees F. last week, which means our summer is going to be brutal. Like all day 100+ F brutal. AHHH… we must prepare!
That being said, our bodies will need to (slowly) start adapting to heat and humidity. We will need to keep our mineral supply in good check, as well as our hydration. It’s all about that electrolyte balance, yes?
You see, last summer, my husband (aka the kiwi) would wake up at 7am, get out the door by 8am and ride for 4 hours in the Texas summer heat. He would have 5 water bottles, stop 2 times to refill, and still come home parched and not very hungry due to dehydration. He would down a coconut water or chocolate milk, but sometimes a drink just doesn’t cut it.. … not in Texas at least.
That’s when I, the worried Sherpa Wife, decided to make these watermelon salad bowls.
We know that REFUELING within that 45 minute post workout window (a long and/or intense session) is KEY to RECOVERY. But I also think that refueling with REAL Food will give you more nutrients. That’s if you choose wisely. haha.
These watermelon salad bowls are legit! It was something he could eat right away.
In fact, this is a watermelon salad recipe that ANYBODY can enjoy on a hot summer day. No workout needed. No sweat needed, but that is a perk!
- Light in taste so easy on the stomach
- Made with natural fruit sugar to replenish glycogen –> the good carbs
- Packed full of hydrating watermelon and Vitamin C
- Raisins for potassium
- Resistant Starch from the Rice (cooled)
- And just a little of coconut cream or milk to supply us with extra minerals, vitamins. Plus it pairs so well!
Enough talking – time to make the watermelon salad!
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Coconut Rice and Watermelon Salad Bowls
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 2 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Coconut Rice and Watermelon Salad Bowls. Healthy, vegan, gluten free side dish!
Ingredients
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 cup chopped watermelon
- Naturally refined avocado oil or coconut oil
- Dash of sea salt
- ½ cup canned coconut cream
- â…“ cup dried fruit or fresh berries
- ½ cup chopped mint leaves
- ¼ cup honey or agave for vegan option.
Instructions
- First prepare your rice. Cook according to directions. Usually 1:2 ratio of rice to water. Drain, stir in 1 tablespoon coconut oil and a dash of salt. Let it cool in fridge.
- While the rice is cooling, chopped your herbs and watermelon. Once rice has cooled, stir in the coconut cream and honey.
- spoon rice into 2 -3 bowls and top with dried fruit or berries, watermelon, herbs, and more honey/coconut cream.
- Keeps well in fridge overnight too!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: side dish
- Method: stove
- Cuisine: american
Keywords: rice, salad, watermelon, side dish, healthy, gluten free
Being the nutrition nerd i am, I just had to explain my reasoning in my recipe. I’m sure you are okay with that, right?
So there you go. I’m prepping you for summer. For sweat fest season. For EAT ALL THE WATERMELON season. Runners, triathletes, cyclists, outdoor boot campers …. are you ready for it?
Tell me your tricks for refueling during the summer. Do you have any go to meals that work for you?
Well, time to go pick up some more watermelon … or any melon for that matter!
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Ohhhh these look fresh and tasty I need all of that I can get if it’s never going to stop snowing here!!
I have been wanting watermelon so bad lately! Too bad it’s not in the grocery stores yet where I live, but when it is, Im making this! I have actually never ate watermelon with anything else, and frankly i don’t know why! This looks amazing! 🙂
ahhhh I can’t wait for watermelon season!! it is my go to!! Anything grilled with a huge side of veggies is my hot summer day go to too 🙂 this looks DELISH!
so thought of you!
Oh girl, I love this – watermelon ANYTHING and I’m there!
okay, our eating habits and choices are so similar- Is it weird that I’d add feta to this too?!
genius move bro! Feta on all the things!
Love raisins and rice together. Must try them with watermelon too though. Looks delicious Lindsay. 🙂
you would love neil! I just know it!
You have outdone yourself my friend. Not only is this nutritious and hydrating, it’s also beautiful. I love seeing watermelon in unusual places. Love it.
This is such a creative combo – basil and coconut – yum! I should send this over to my Dad and Sister, they cycle ridiculous amounts!
oh yes! i bet they would! do you miss them?
So much! But I try not to think about it 🙂
I totally get that. Always here if you need to chat.
This sounds delicious if I liked coconut or watermelon haha. I love the pictures though; anything with bright colors like that is mesmerizing to me!
Really? Well no worries friend, you can so use real milk or cream or almond milk and then switch the watermelon to berries and raisins to banana. Same health perks! WOO! not as bright colors though. LOL!
Such unique flavors! I love the freshness of the watermelon and basil, and that coconut cream rice sounds HEAVENLY 🙂
it’s one of my favorite combos.
I’m awful about refueling after a long/hard workout – I usually can’t even think about food for several hours. This looks good and with the watermelon I could maybe trick myself into thinking it was just hydrating!
it’s hard when you are not hungry. I bet you’d love these kim!
When I lived (shortly) in Atlanta, I was introduced to the idea of putting salt on watermelon by co-workers of my boyfriend at the time (they were contractors working out all day in the heat). It’s PERFECT for dehydration …
But whatever. It’s perfection period. I’ve never looked back. Hydrated or not.
yes! and on cantaloupe! it’s amazing. i think that’s why i like watermelon salsa. Have you tried?
This is the most interesting and awesome recipe! I am in love!!!!
I love this idea with the watermelon! Totally #strangebutgood.
i thought you’d like. 😉
I love this, sounds so delicious and yummy!! Too bad I am still resting, well I am attempting a full week of lower intensity workouts starting today. If only watermelon was good here right now I would be making this for my hubby as he has a marathon in less than 3 weeks and I could use his refueling and recovery as a reason for me to enjoy it. 😉 I think I may have to take my chances and grab a watermelon and make it.
so you can totally use any melon or even orange/grapefruit! let me know if you try it for husband! and wish him luck with training!
Your posts always make me hungry… then it makes me sad because you have done all the work: showed what it looks like, showed how to make it, showed how easy it is… and I’m too lazy to make it happen.
maybe we need to relocate to SF and then i can feed all the hungry athletes, yes?
This looks like the perfect summer patio meal!
Annica
www.lifemodifier.com
oh totally! well, spring patio for us. summer is brutal here. haha
Watermelon!! Oh my favorite summer fruit! Can’t wait to buy watermelon on the regular again! Thanks for reminding me of the 45 minute refueling window!!
This looks so refreshing and good! I didn’t know jasmine rice was GF. Learned something!
yes, jasmine is just long grain white rice really. A little thinner too. so good!
Mmm this looks like the perfect way to refuel AND cool off 🙂 I ate rice out of those bowls growing up, hehe. XOXO
oh that’s awesome! i bet you have tons of great rice bowl recipes!
Whoa. This looks crazy cool and delicious. So unique and unexpected. Definitely need to whip this one up this summer. I absolutely love watermelon in the summer time. Little smoothie with watermelon and coconut water – delicious!
heck ya, you speak my love language via smoothie! haha
It’s definitely going to be a hot one this year…I can feel it and I know those mosquitoes are going to come out in FULL force…It’s been cooler here and I’m enjoying it as much as possible.
Every summer I try, without success, to get on the watermelon wagon. I’m just not a fan… and I don’t know why! I mean it’s basically just a chunk of water with a little texture… not a clue. Hopefully with this recipe, maybe I’ll finally come around!
well you are in luck, I made this bowl with banana and blackberries versus the watermelon and raisin. Same health perks, still fab
And that’s why you are the best! =)
Now I cannot wait for watermelon season!! YUM!
I love reading your posts. I always learn so much from you and I’m totally on board with the nutrition nerd status!
oh i’m glad. I’m definitely focusing more on nutrition.. some people might be bored. LOL!
Wow what a creative healthy recipe! Looks fab-thanks for sharing and linking up with us today for MM
thank you for hosting!
OMG this looks all kinds of delicious! I cannot wait until watermelon season!
Looks so refreshing & yummy!!!!!!!!! I need to learn to take pics like yours! 🙂 I eat pretty much the same all year round. 🙂
This looks like my kind of dessert– not to sweet, but fresh and light. We all love Watermelon in this house, it’s not summer vacation without it!
★★★★★
This is such a creative combo. I’ve been all about coconut cream lately! But 90 degrees already? I’m so sorry!
Great recipe and seriously beautiful food photography as always, Lindsay. I will definitely be trying these after my long runs in the summer. I love having a way to refuel that’s real food.
Now I have a favorite way to refuel during the summer- what a wonderfully tasty and refreshing bowl! I’ve never had watermelon with rice before – my tastebuds are piqued! I cannot wait to try this! Though, I gotta forget you even mentioned condensed milk was optional – I love that stuff so much, I could polish off the whole can – and I am lactose intolerant! 🙂
haha you and me both! ohhh that creamy dairy sugar.. so good!
Yum! I am so ready for some summer/spring foods and this would totally hit the spot. I’m on it!
YUM! Looks fantastic and the watermelon is such a creative addition!
I couldn’t even imagine that kind of heat… never mind try to be active in it 😯 This is probably why I’m a snowboarder 😆 But I wouldn’t mind downing one of these bowls! The combination of flavours sounds out.of.this.world good.
you’d melt here and I’d freeze there. let’s meet in hawaii instead?
I loooove coconut rice and I want those spoons 😀
they are my mother in laws –> I covet them! LOL!
mmmm! Watermelon screams summer to me!
I always love how you know about the importance of that 45 minute window. It is the thing I preach about the most, yet people just do not seem to do it! This sounds amazing, I would never have thought of the watermelon combo, but i am sure it is so refreshing…just what you need after a hot run! Thanks for joining us for meatless monday friend 🙂
Well you know I am all about the rehydration and refueling. Condensed milk just makes me think of Jamaica–they don’t have cows that produce milk down there, so they do’t drink it. American’s like their coffee, so they give you condensed milk with your coffee! And powdered milk for your cereal…
oh yes, so good with condensed milk too. let’s take it to Jamaica!
I’m really ready for watermelon! Looks delicious!
ooh.
Id never ever have thought of this and yet have it all here (well condensed milk version anyway:-)).
not gonna lie, the condensed milk version is HEAVENLY!