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Watermelon Tajin Skewers — Quick No-Cook Summer Snack with Lime & Cotija Pinterest recipe pin

Watermelon Tajin Skewers with Lime, Mint & Cotija

Cold watermelon cubes dusted with tajin, spritzed with lime and finished with fresh mint and cotija—an easy, no-cook skewer perfect for summer gatherings.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 skewers
Calories: 90
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Skewers
  • 1 medium seedless watermelon about 4–5 pounds, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 48 cubes)
  • 1 tablespoon tajin seasoning divided
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice about 2 limes
  • 12 fresh mint leaves whole or torn
  • 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese plus extra for garnish, optional
  • 8 short 8-inch wooden skewers 3–4 cubes per skewer
Optional
  • 1 teaspoon honey optional, for pineapple variation
  • 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds optional, dairy-free garnish

Equipment

  • 1 10–12-inch chef's knife
  • 1 Cutting board
  • 1 8-inch wooden skewers (8)
  • 1 Rimmed baking sheet for chilling
  • 1 Mixing bowl and small squeeze bottle or fork

Method
 

Prepare the watermelon
  1. Trim the watermelon and slice into 1-inch cubes, aiming for uniform pieces; pat the cubes dry with paper towels to remove excess surface moisture.
  2. Spread the cubes in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and chill uncovered in the refrigerator for 15–20 minutes.
Season and assemble
  1. Place chilled cubes in a mixing bowl and sprinkle 3/4 of the tajin over them, tossing gently to coat without crushing; use the remaining tajin for a light finish after assembly if desired.
  2. Drizzle 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice evenly over the cubes using a squeeze bottle or fork motion so the juice is distributed thinly and sets the seasoning.
  3. Thread 3–4 watermelon cubes onto each 8-inch skewer, leaving a small handle at the end; tuck a mint leaf between cubes or reserve mint to garnish each skewer.
Finish and serve
  1. Arrange skewers on a platter and crumble cotija over them just before serving; refrigerate assembled skewers without cotija for up to 10 minutes if you need to hold briefly.
  2. Garnish with extra mint leaves or toasted pumpkin seeds for a dairy-free option and serve cold.

Notes

Use firm, ripe watermelon and 1-inch cubes to avoid sogginess. Dust tajin lightly and spritz with fresh lime at assembly to keep seasoning even without releasing excess juice. Add cotija and mint just before serving to preserve texture. If prepping ahead, cut and chill watermelon up to 24 hours before assembly.