Air Fryer Watermelon Radish Cucumber Salad with Vegan Feta

Watermelon radishes are a gorgeous, delicious, and nutritious ingredient that often gets overlooked at the market. If you have been passing these beauties by because you aren’t quite sure what to do with them, today is the day to give them a try! This Air Fryer Watermelon Radish Cucumber Salad with Vegan Feta recipe is the perfect, easy, crowd pleasing dish to get more veggies on you table in a flash!

Air Fryer Watermelon Radish Cucumber Salad with Vegan Feta is made with air fryer roasted watermelon radishes tossed with sliced English cucumbers, covered in an easy-to-make, oil free, rosemary dressing, and topped with creamy vegan feta crumbles.

Thanks to the air fryer, you can have perfectly roasted air fryer watermelon radishes prepped and ready to eat in 10 minutes! Pair them with juicy cucumbers, a sweet and savory Rosemary dressing, and rich vegan feta…and now we have an AMAZING healthy salad that is beautiful AND absolutely delicious! This Air Fryer Watermelon Radish Cucumber Salad with Vegan Feta recipe will easily become one of your new favorite dishes.

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Why you will love this Air Fryer Watermelon Radish recipe

Brace yourself…you are about to fall in love with air fryer watermelon radish. Why? This recipe is…

• SUPER EASY TO MAKE – Thanks to the air fryer, this watermelon radish salad is incredibly easy to make! With little effort and only 15 minutes, you can have this air fryer watermelon radish recipe prepped and ready to serve in no time! Even a beginner in the kitchen can successfully make this dish!
• BEAUTIFUL ON THE INSIDE AND OUT – This air fryer radish recipe is GORGEOUS! Thank you Mother Nature for the fabulous color you have gifted the watermelon radish. Impress your dinner guests with this stunning salad! Not only is it beautiful…it’s also full of nutrients! Fill yourself up without being weighed down with this light, low calorie salad.
• GREAT FOR MEAL PREP – Having healthy options prepped and ready in your fridge is KEY to easier healthy choices. When you are starving, skip the processed stuff, and set yourself up for success with this healthy air fryer watermelon radish recipe! This recipe can be prepped in advance and stored in your fridge for 5-7 days.
• PERFECT FOR PARTIES – We all eat with our eyes first. Offer you dinner party guests a salad it that is gorgeous AND super unique in flavor! This air fryer watermelon radish salad makes the perfect side dish or appetizer!
• VEGANS AND NON VEGANS WILL LOVE THIS SALAD – Yes! This salad is completely vegan! But thanks to the amazing vegan feta cheese options that are now on the store shelves, even non vegans will love this dish! For this recipe I went with Follow You Heart vegan feta, and let me tell you, this plant-based cheese option is AMAZING…it tastes so much like traditional feta!
• THIS SALAD IS GLUTEN FREE – For those of us who need to avoid gluten, this is a perfect salad for that!

Ingredients for Air Fryer Watermelon Radish Cucumber Salad with Vegan Feta

This salad is LOADED with flavor…and it’s all done with only 7 ingredients! Here’s what you will need to create this air fryer watermelon radish salad…

• WATERMELON RADISHES – The watermelon radish is the star of the show in this salad, but it is perfectly balanced with everything else. Can’t find watermelon radishes, but want to give this salad a go? The salad won’t be quite as pretty, but you can substitute any other radish for a similar flavor profile if needed. Daikon radish would be my next choice.
• PERSIAN CUCUMBERS – Persian cucumbers are the mini cucumbers you will see at the store. Once I had these babies, I never went back. If they are available in the store…that’s what I’m grabbing. Why? They are much more crisp than most other cucumbers and so juicy! If you can’t find Persian cucumbers, you can substitute any cucumber of your choice.
• VEGAN FETA CRUMBLES – Yes! Vegan feta exists…and it is DELICIOUS! Follow Your Heart vegan feta crumbles taste soooo much like traditional feta. Seriously! It’s mind blowing. You can find Follow Your Heart vegan feta in most vegan sections of the grocery store. Can’t find it? Substitute any vegan cheese of your choice.
• MAPLE SYRUP – Maple syrup is used to slightly sweeten the dressing. This addition is perfect for balancing out the bitterness of the radish and vinegar. Feel free to substitute any sweetener of your choice.
• RED WINE VINEGAR – Can substitute any vinegar
• GARLIC
• SALT
• FRESH ROSEMARY

Oil Free Rosemary Dressing for Air Fryer Watermelon Radish Salad

Yes! This rosemary dressing is oil free!

Why? Because I love to skip on oil whenever possible. You can make delicious dressings without it!

How? Simply combine water with red wine vinegar (acidity), maple syrup (sweet), rosemary (flavor), garlic (more flavor), and salt. Cook it down for 10 minutes and BAM! A delicious, super low calorie, no oil dressing!

If you are looking for MORE calories, then add the oil. A tablespoon of olive oil would be great in this dressing.

How to make Air Fryer Watermelon Radish Cucumber Salad with Vegan Feta

As mentioned above, this Air Fryer Watermelon Radish Cucumber Salad with Vegan Feta recipe is so simple to make! Here’s how…

Preheat your air fryer

Begin by preheating the oven to 400ºF. If your air fryer does not have a preheat button, simply turn your empty air fryer on and let it heat up for 5 minutes before use.

Cook the air fryer watermelon radishes

Clean and peel your watermelon radishes. Then slice them into thinly slices about 1/4 inch thick. Then cut them into quarters. Feel free to alter the size of the cut radish if desired, I just find this size perfect for texture…and it’s pretty.

Place your watermelon radish slices on an air fryer tray in a single layer.

If desired, you are welcome to coat your radishes with oil before cooking to make your radishes slightly more moist. I personally do not use oil when I air fry the majority of my vegetables to save on calories and fat.

Place the tray of watermelon radishes in the preheated air fryer and cook for 10 minutes. Flip at the half way point. The air fryer radishes will be done when they are slightly tender and the edges become slightly crisp.

Be sure to keep an eye on your radishes as they cook, cooking time may vary depending on air fryer.

**While the air fryer watermelon radishes are cooking, use your time wisely and move ahead to make the dressing

Make the Rosemary dressing

While the air fryer watermelon radishes are roasting, it’s time to focus on the rosemary dressing!

Combine 2 large sprigs of rosemary (about 4 inches long), 1 clove of chopped garlic, 1 tbsp of maple syrup, 1/8 tsp of salt, and 3/4 cup water in the a sauce pan.

Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Allow to cook for 10 minutes. The dressing will reduce, but should not dry out completely, add a little extra water if needed.

After 10 minutes, remove dressing from heat. Remove rosemary from the dressing and discard. Set dressing aside.

Prep your cucumber

Slice 3 Persian cucumbers into slices about 1/4 inch thick. Set aside.

Put it all together

Now it’s time to put the watermelon radish salad together!

In a bowl combine air fryer watermelon radish, sliced cucumber, and 2 tbsp of vegan feta.

Pour the rosemary dressing over top. Stir until combined.

Serve and enjoy!

Tips for making this air fryer watermelon radish recipe

• Preheat the air fryer – Preheating the air fryer is super important when it comes to successfully making air fryer watermelon radish. This allows the oven to heat up so it is actually at the temperature it should be when you place the watermelon radish in the air fryer. If you do not have a preheat button on your air fryer, simply turn on the empty air fryer for 5 minutes before use.  Never preheat your air fryer with parchment paper in it! It could get sucked up into the heating element and cause a fire!
• You don’t need oil – When it comes to air fryer watermelon radishes, you can actually skip the oil if desired. Personally, if I can skip the oil on my air fryer veggies without compromising the texture or flavor too much, I do. If you want your air fryer watermelon radishes to be slightly more moist, feel free to brush a thin layer of oil on them
• Cook in a single layer – I know it can be tempting to over crowd or stack ingredients in your air fryer…but don’t do this! Always lay your watermelon radish out in a single layer and give a little space in between each one. This will allow your air fryer watermelon radishes to cook evenly.

Questions Answered

• What do watermelon radishes taste like – In case you were wondering, no, watermelon radishes do not taste like watermelon. They get their name from their color and pattern. Watermelon radishes have mellow flavor that is slightly sweet and peppery. Uncooked, watermelon radishes have a stronger bitter flavor, but when you roast them or cook them, they become more tender, juicy, and mild in flavor.
• When are watermelon radishes in season – Watermelon radishes are in season from late fall through the spring.
• Where can I buy watermelon radishes – You can find watermelon radishes at many grocery stores in the produce section, at the health food store, and often at your local farmers market (especially fall through spring).
• What is a good substitute for watermelon radish – if you cannot find watermelon radish in the store, you can substitute any radish of your choosing. Daikon radish is an excellent substitute. Of course, the salad won’t be quite as pretty…but the flavor profile will be similar.
• Can you eat the skin of a watermelon radish – Yes, you can eat the skin of a watermelon radish. If you choose to, be sure to thoroughly wash it. Personally, I like to peel the skin of the watermelon radish off because it looks nicer.
• Can you prep this air fryer watermelon radish recipe in advance – Yes! This watermelon radish salad is a perfect candidate for meal prep! Simply make the salad and the salad dressing, but don’t combine them! Store the cooked air fryer watermelon radish, sliced cucumbers, and vegan feta cheese together and store the rosemary dressing separate. Why? You don’t want your salad to get soggy! When you are ready to serve the salad, toss the ingredients together, serve and enjoy!
• Why is the dressing oil free – Personally, I love to skip out on oil as much as possible. With my body type, the less calories, the better. Dressing can be absolutely delicious without it! Instead, I just use water while cooking down my dressings. But feel free to add oil if desired! A tablespoon of olive oil would work great.
• How can I lower the calories of this salad – This salad is already a high volume, low calorie dish, but if you want to drop the calories even more, simply remove the vegan feta cheese.
• How can I make this salad higher in calories – If you are looking for a more calorie rich meal, you have many options do to do. I would recommend adding olive oil to the rosemary dressing and brushing you watermelon radishes with oil before air frying them. You can also add a handful of nuts or sliced avocado to this salad!
• Is this salad vegan – Yes! This air fryer watermelon radish salad is vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based
• Is this salad gluten free – Yes! This air fryer watermelon radish salad is gluten free!

What to serve with Air Fryer Watermelon Radish Cucumber Salad

This air fryer watermelon radish salad makes an excellent side dish or appetizer for any meal! Serve it along side butternut squash dumplings or vegan seafood scampi.

You can also add protein to this salad and turn it into a meal! Pop some seasoned tofu in the air fryer along side your radishes, and you will have a light, healthy, vegan meal in a flash!

More Recipes to Serve with this Air Fryer Watermelon Radish Salad

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• BUTTERNUT SQUASH DUMPLINGS WITH KALE AND SHIITAKE IN MISO BUTTER
• VEGAN SEAFOOD SCAMPI
• BLACK BEAN & SWEET POTATO BURRITOS
• GUINNESS VEGAN STEAK SLIDERS : VEGAN BEYOND STEAK TIPS RECIPE

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