If you’re searching for a side dish that cools things off and heats them up at the same time, this is the recipe. Two star ingredients of the warm-weather months, corn and watermelon, take a zingy turn with the help of traditional street-corn chili-powder seasoning and a quick pickle.

With just a few minutes of prep work, you’ll create a colorful salad that highlights the sweet flavors of watermelon and corn, all balanced by a spicy surprise. Also nice: The salad offers a refreshing counterpoint to traditional barbecue fare.

Spicy Corn Salad with Watermelon

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

2 limes, zest and juice

1/4 teaspoon salt-free chili powder

3 cups cubed watermelon, cut into 1- to 2-inch squares

2 cups fresh, raw corn kernels (about 2 ears of corn)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions:

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the vinegar, the lime zest, 2 tablespoons of lime juice and the spice until well combined. Add the watermelon and corn, and gently mix again. Then cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes (and up to a full day) before serving, occasionally tossing the ingredients.

When ready to serve, drain and reserve the pickling juices and set aside. Transfer the salad to a serving dish and sprinkle with fresh cilantro, if using. Then add a drizzle of pickling juices to taste. Serve cold.

Sodium content: Watermelon: 2 mg, 1 cup diced; Corn: 22 mg per cup (or 1 large ear). All sodium content from the USDA National Nutrient Database, release 26, and based on values for raw ingredients for traditional serving sizes.

For more delicious and healthy recipes:

Foods with 100 Calories

Healthy Weeknight Dinners

Healthy Grilled Foil Packs

Jessica Goldman Foung began the blog SodiumGirl.com to capture her adventures in a low-sodium life. She regularly writes about salt-free flavor tips and ingredient swaps.