There are several theories of where the margarita first originated and not sure which one is true! However, the most well-known fact about it is that Carlos "Danny" Herrera, a restaurant owner in Tijuana, Mexico, invented it in 1938. It's said that he developed it for a client who needed something stronger than a shot but was allergic to all hard alcohol except tequila. You may claim that the invention of the watermelon margarita was a resounding success based on the acceptance and dissemination of this delectable cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 12 to 18 watermelon chunks
• 3 oz agave nectar
• 5 oz water
• 6 oz fresh lime juice
• 12 oz Teremana Blanco Tequila
• Ice

How to make it:

1. In a large pitcher, combine the watermelon, agave nectar, and water, and gently muddle.
2. Add the fresh lime juice and tequila.
3. Top with ice and give it a stir to incorporate the ingredients.
4. Serve over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
5. Garnish with a lime wheel or watermelon chunk.
   

It’s always a good idea to have a few homemade popsicle recipes to fall back on, just in case you can’t find your favorite friendly brands at the store. Meanwhile, watermelon and kiwi pops are a perfect choice for this hottest summer. A healthy, homemade, warm-weather treat made with only 3 ingredients. Cool and refreshing, fresh and bright, this easy recipe makes a perfect summer cool-down treat!

Ingredients:

• 5 cups watermelon, pureed (about half of one large watermelon)
  
• 5 medium kiwi, peeled and sliced.
  

How to make it:

1. Place all watermelon in a blender and process until smooth.
2. Place kiwi slice in mold and fill popsicle wells with watermelon juice. Continue layering like that until wells are full.
3. Insert popsicle stick and let freeze until solid.

NOTE: If your watermelon is not at its peak and lacks some sweetness, add 1 tablespoon of agave syrup at a time to the mixture until the preferred sweetness is reached.

Balsamic watermelon chicken salad is an amazing summer salad. Jam-packed with delicious ingredients like salty blue cheese, healthy spinach, and grilled chicken and served with a balsamic reduction dressing. You just need seven ingredients and 30 minutes to prepare this crisp, sweet and reviving salad.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 3 teaspoons all-purpose seasoning
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cups baby spinach or greens
• 2 cups cubed watermelon
• 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
• 1/4 cup sliced or crushed almonds

How to make it:

1. Pour the balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the balsamic vinegar is significantly reduced and starting to become syrupy.
2. Meanwhile, turn a grill or nonstick skillet to high heat. Sprinkle the chicken with the seasoning on both sides and drizzle with the olive oil. Transfer to the hot grill and cook until no longer pink on the inside and nicely browned on the outside. Let rest for 5 minutes; cut into small cubes.
3. Layer the spinach with the chicken, watermelon, blue cheese, almonds, and drizzle with the balsamic reduction to taste. Top with additional olive oil if desired.

This watermelon blueberry salsa is a delicious fruity yet savory sauce, perfect for a hot summer day. This salsa is so quick to make if you use a food processor to do the chopping. Don’t worry if you don’t have one – you can get the same effect when you hand chop.

Ingredients:

• 4 small Roma tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 1/2 small onion, chopped
• 1 jalapeno, chopped (discard seeds for a milder salsa)
• 1 cup diced watermelon
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 tablespoons lime juice (from 1 lime)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
  

How to make it:

1. Combine tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno in the bowl of a food processor; pulse briefly or until finely chopped (do not fully liquefy). If you don’t have a food processor, you can finely chop the ingredients by hand.
2. Transfer tomato mixture to a medium bowl; stir in watermelon, blueberries, cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.

This watermelon gazpacho recipe only takes about 15 minutes to prep and can be made up to two days in advance. Plus it’s made with fresh and healthy ingredients that are also naturally vegan and gluten-free (if you use GF bread), which makes gazpacho an especially great option if you happen to be cooking for a crowd this summer.

Ingredients:

• 1 large tomato, pureed
• 1/2 serrano chile
• 2 cups cubed fresh watermelon
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons minced red onion
• 1/2 cucumber, seeded and minced
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill, plus more for garnish
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

How to make it:

1. In a blender, puree the tomatoes, chile, and 1/2 of the watermelon.
2. Pour in the red wine vinegar and olive oil and pulse.
3. Add the onion, cucumber, and dill, and season with salt and pepper. Puree until smooth. Pour into chilled bowls and sprinkle with dill, feta, and remaining watermelon.

This one's for you, bacon lovers. Though watermelon and bacon may be an unusual combination, you can trust that watermelon bacon salad is a delicious one. It’d make a great addition to your summer party. This creative salad is sweet, salty, crunchy, and refreshing—all the essential elements of a satisfying dish—for just 150 calories.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of watermelon, cubed
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 ear of corn, kernels sliced off
• 1/2 cup baby arugula
• 1/4 cup basil, chopped
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 2 pieces of bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled

How to make it:

1. Combine everything except bacon in a large bowl and toss to combine.
2. Plate and top with a portion of the bacon.

You may be thinking that honey grilled watermelon and mozzarella sounds like a funny combination, but once you taste it, you won’t be able to get enough! The creamy mozzarella pairs perfectly with the sweetness in the watermelon, creating a perfect and refreshing party food! If you've never grilled watermelon before, this is the summer you should try it out.

Ingredients:

• 2 large, round watermelon slices, each cut into 4 triangles
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 pint of grape tomatoes, quartered
• 4 ounces of fresh mozzarella, cut in half or sliced
• a bunch of fresh basil leaves
• balsamic glaze for drizzling

How to make it:

1. Preheat your grill to medium heat. Brush both sides of each watermelon triangle with olive oil and season all sides with salt and pepper. Add a drizzle of honey over each triangle and place them on the grill, grilling each side for about 2 minutes. Remove and add a little more honey if desired.
2. Assemble salads by placing 2 watermelon triangles on each plate, then cover with a sprinkle of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil leaves. Add some salt and pepper on top, then drizzle with balsamic glaze.
   

This watermelon salad with basil ginger dressing is packed with the perfect warm weather flavors: Sweet watermelon drizzled with delicious olive oil, garnished with toasted almonds, mint, sliced red onion, and a sweet basil and ginger dressing. This will be a BBQ hit all summer long.

Ingredients:

For Salad:

• 1 medium watermelon, cubed
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• Pinch fine sea salt
• 1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted
• 1/3 cup feta cheese (omit for dairy-free)
• 1/4 small red onion, finely sliced
• 1–2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped or chiffonade
• 4 strips of cooked bacon, chopped (optional)

For Dressing:

• 1/4 cup fresh basil, not packed
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger

How to make it:

1. In a bowl place cubed watermelon. Drizzle olive oil and sea salt over watermelon.
2. In a small skillet over medium-low heat, toast almonds until golden, but not burned. Let cool.
3. If adding, cook bacon using your desired method (our favorite method is baking it). Let cool.
4. Assemble the salad by adding your sliced onion, optional bacon, feta, almonds, and mint leaves.
5. In a blender, blend dressing ingredients until smooth and drizzle over salad, tasting to ensure you have the amount you desire. If your blender is too large, blend using an immersion blender in a cup.
6. Serve immediately, or refrigerate if serving later. Best served within a few hours.

Chia seeds are sometimes referred to as “Miracle Seeds” because they are nutrient powerhouses, packed with protein, fiber, and 19 amino acids, with all of the essential amino acids except taurine. You will be surprised to find that the combination of chia seeds with watermelon and strawberries is a perfect match for a hot summer day. It only takes a few minutes to complete the strawberry chia watermelon smoothie, give it a try!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh watermelon (cubed // black seeds removed)
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 medium ripe banana (previously peeled // chopped and frozen)
• 1/2 – 3/4 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
• 1 medium lime (juiced // 1 lemon yields ~30 ml)
• 1 Tbsp chia or hemp seeds (optional)

How to make it:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until creamy and smooth, adding more almond milk to thin, or more frozen strawberries or ice to thicken.
2. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more lime for acidity, banana for sweetness, or watermelon for a more intense watermelon flavor.
3. Serves 2 (as the original recipe is written) – top with additional chia seeds to mock watermelon seeds! Best when fresh, though leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.

These watermelon lime slushies are the perfect combination of sweet and tart. With just four ingredients, these slushies are perfect for an easy summer drink! Also, opt for a glass of this slushie rather than a beer or margarita, which will only dehydrate you—and ultimately put you at risk for heatstroke.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Watermelon Cubed
• 1 Lime Juiced
• 1/2 cup Water
• 2 cups Ice

How to make it:

1. Pour all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Garnish with a slice of lime.