Easy fruit recipes are a must! If you are looking for more fruit recipes, try these Strawberry Cheesecake Bites, they are no bake. Strawberry Muffins, are a delicious way to add fruit at breakfast! Or Raspberry Brownies, for a sweet treat made with a raspberry sauce and chocolate chunks.
I am excited to show you this recipe today because it is a fun one. It’s la sandía loca, aka the crazy watermelon!
If you are looking for a more delightful way to enjoy your fruits, this is a great way to do it.
This watermelon recipe is a show stopper, I mean just look at it! It’s a watermelon bowl overflowing with delicious fruits like pineapple, jicama, mango, strawberries, and watermelon all coated in tangy chamoy and spicy tajin. The fruit skewers and Mexican candy sprinkled about adds an entertaining touch.
Es muy divertido, but also a little crazy!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Nutritious: Although it contains a little bit of candy, there is a ton of fruit here, also. Watermelon is low in calories and sugar, but packed with a high water content to help keep you hydrated. It also has a high amount of potassium which supports nerve and muscle function.
- Simple recipe: This is a pretty easy recipe, you just need a sharp knife to cut through all of the fruits.
- A crowd-pleaser: It’s over-the-top looks make it perfect for any gathering or celebration. The vibrant flavors will keep everyone coming back for more. Bring this over the top fruit display to any get together to wow all the guests! It is perfect for Cinco de Mayo celebrations, fiestas, Memorial Day, 4th of July, birthday parties, the sky is the limit.
- Customize it: This recipe is completely customizable. Make it healthy by keeping it as all fruit or a little unhealthy by adding some Mexican candies. Make it as big or as small as you want by using personal watermelons or use the biggest watermelon you can find.
- No cooking: No hot kitchen here because this recipe does not need any cooking.
What is a Sandia Loca?
Sandia loca, or crazy watermelon in Spanish, is a very popular treat served by street vendors in Mexico. But, you don’t have to travel just to enjoy one because you can make it right at home.
A watermelon half is hollowed out and used as a bowl to hold all of the chamoy and tajin coated fruits. More fruit is added to wooden skewers and stuck around the watermelon’s edge. Then for the fun part, decorate with candy.
It is a delightful combination of sweet, but also spicy and tangy flavors that will have your tastebuds wanting more.
What is Chamoy?
Chamoy sauce is a very popular sweet and spicy hot sauce. It is made from lime, dried chilies, and fruit such as apricot, plum, or mango. It is often drizzled on fruit, used on and in candy, mixed into drinks, and used in many dishes.
What is Tajin?
Tajin is the brand name of a spicy condiment. It is made with lime, chili powder, and salt. It isn’t liquid like chamoy, it is a dry seasoning and the only fruit it contains is dehydrated lime juice.
Sandia Loca Ingredients
Here are the basic ingredients to make this fun watermelon recipe. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post for full ingredient amounts.
- Watermelon: Get your chosen size of fresh watermelon. Use a large watermelon to serve more people. To find a great watermelon, look for a yellowish field spot, this means it sat on the ground as it grew. A rounder melon with vein-like webbing lines and a solid sound when knocked on is likely a sweeter watermelon.
- Jicama: An often overlooked vegetable at the grocery store, the jicama is round, tan colored, and has a light crisp crunch and sweet flavor. Choose one that is firm when you squeeze it.
- Pineapple: Add a pop of yellow color and add a juicy tropical flavor.
- Strawberries: We used strawberries on the skewers but you can add them into the mix also.
- Mango: Mangoes bring a tropical vibe that we love. When shopping for mangoes, look for ones that smell fruity and have a slight give when they are ripe.
- Lime: Lime juice is added to bring out the flavors of the fruit and the Mexican spices. You can also use lemon juice.
- Chamoy: A sweet chili flavored sauce that coats the fruit. We use the Tajin brand.
- Tajin: Is a dry seasoning that adds some tangy flavor.
- Hot Sauce: This is optional if you want more spice. Use your favorite Mexican hot sauce. Ours is Tapatio.
- Mexican Candy: Tamarind candy is used the most often, but you can choose your favorites or use a combination of candy. We use Tamarrico tamarind sticks, Manguitos Charros con chili, Vero Mix Lollipops, and Lucas Salsaghetti.
How to Make Sandia Loco
Here are the basic instructions to make the crazy watermelon recipe.
- Cut open watermelon: With a sharp knife cut the watermelon in half. Then cut a small slice off of the side of the watermelon you plan on resting it on to stabilize it.
- Cut into chunks: Slice the watermelon flesh diagonally in both directions then use a large spoon to scoop out the watermelon chunks, you will only need about 1/2 – 3/4 of the watermelon from one half. Cut them down to bite-sized pieces and set them aside. Save the other half of the watermelon and the 1/4 taken from the first half, for another use.
- Add fruit: In a large bowl, add in the cut up watermelon, jicama, mango, and most of the pineapple (set aside 8 chunks to use on skewers).
- Add flavors: Pour in the chamoy, lime juice, a couple drops of hot sauce, and tajin. Gently mix.
- Fruit into watermelon shell: Add the fruit mixture into the cavity of the empty watermelon.
- Make skewers: To make the fruit skewers, alternate threading the pineapple and strawberries onto 6-inch wooden skewers. Stick the fruit skewers into the rind of the watermelon.
- Decorate with candy and enjoy!
More Popular Sandia Loca Toppings
- Cucumber
- Orange slices
- Blueberries
- Papaya
- Honeydew melon
- Chili powder
- Lemon juice
- Japanese peanuts
- Tamarind candies
Tips for Success
- Fresh fruit is best. Use fresh fruit for the best tasting sandia loca.
- Ripe fruit. Using ripe fruit will give you the sweetest and juiciest fruit dish.
- Use a sharp knife. It is important to use a sharp knife because you will be cutting through a lot of fruits.
Recipe Variations
- Small watermelons. Make personal sized sandia locas by using mini watermelons.
- Fruit shapes. Cut your fruits into shapes like hearts or stars either by hand or use cookie cutters.
- Canned pineapple. Use canned pineapple chunks if you cannot locate fresh pineapple.
- Apple. A good substitute for jicama is apple because it is a similar flavor and crunchy texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sandia fruit? Sandia means “”watermelon” in Spanish.
What fruit can I use? Besides watermelon just use your favorite fruits and whatever you can find. You don’t have to just stick with popular Mexican fruits (those are the more tropical fruits).
Where to get Mexican candy? I like to get our Mexican foods at a local Latin American market. My kids love shopping there. They get to pick out their own candy, drinks, and breads every time we go. It is also very easy to order them online.
How to cut a jicama? Check out how to cut a jicama in this blog post.
How to cut a mango? If you are interested, here is a link to a Mango.org that shows you a couple different ways of how to easily cut a mango.
How to Store & Reheat
Remove any candy and place the leftover watermelon in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap. It should last about 3-5 days in the fridge.
Can I Freeze Sandia Loca?
I don’t recommend freezing this recipe because of some of the ingredients in it.
Try these other great recipes!
If you’ve tried this easy sandia loca receta, don’t forget to give me a star rating and leave me a comment below in the comment section. I love to hear from people who have made my recipes!
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Sandia Loca
Ingredients
- 1 watermelon
- 1/2 jicama, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 mango, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 fresh pineapple, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1/2 cup chamoy
- 1 tablespoon tajin
- 1/2 lime, juice only
- 12 small strawberries, whole with tops cut off
- hot sauce, optional, couple dashes
Instructions
- With a sharp knife cut the watermelon in half. Then cut a small slice off of the side of the watermelon you plan on resting it on to stabilize it.
- Slice the watermelon flesh diagonally in both directions then use a large spoon to scoop out the watermelon chunks, will only need about 1/2 – 3/4 of the watermelon from one half. Cut them down to bite-sized pieces and set them aside. Save the other half of the watermelon and the 1/4 taken from the first half, for another use.
- Pour any extra watermelon juice out of the empty watermelon.
- In a large bowl, add in the cut up watermelon, jicama, mango, and most of the pineapple (set aside 8 chunks to use on skewers). Pour in the chamoy, lime juice, hot sauce, and tajin. Gently mix.
- Add the fruit mixture into the cavity of the empty watermelon.
- To make the fruit skewers, alternate threading the pineapple and strawberries onto 6-inch wooden skewers. Stick the fruit skewers into the rind of the watermelon.
- Decorate with candy and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- The calculated nutrition information does not account for Tajin or Chamoy.
- Fresh fruit is best. Use fresh fruit for the best tasting sandia loca.
- Ripe fruit. Using ripe fruit will give you the sweetest and juiciest fruit dish.
- Use a sharp knife. It is important to use a sharp knife because you are cutting a lot of fruit.
- Small watermelons. Make personal sized sandia locas by using mini watermelons.
- Fruit shapes. Cut your fruits into shapes like hearts or stars either by hand or use cookie cutters.
- Canned pineapple. Use canned pineapple chunks if you cannot locate fresh pineapple.
- More seasoning. Add more Tajin and Chamoy to taste.
- Leftovers. Leftover watermelon with candy removed should last 3-5 days tightly wrapped in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out!
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