Watermelon Salad
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This light and refreshing Watermelon Salad is the epitome of summer! With juicy watermelon, crisp cucumber, tangy feta cheese, and fresh mint, this salad captures the essence of summer in a bowl. It’s a delightful balance of savory and sweet flavors that will invigorate your taste buds and leave you yearning for more!
Easy Watermelon Salad Recipe
Nothing quite says summer like watermelon! With its vibrant ruby-red flesh, natural sweetness, and essence of light and refreshing flavors. And this easy watermelon salad recipe unlocks the true potential of this beloved fruit and showcases its versatility! By combining it with crispy cucumber, salty feta cheese, aromatic fresh mint, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette to create a delicious, light, and healthy summer salad!
So if you’re looking for a quick and easy recipe for your next BBQ or potluck, this watermelon feta salad is a fantastic choice! With just a handful of fresh ingredients and a mere 15 minutes of prep time, this colorful eye-catching salad is the perfect addition to any spread and pairs beautifully with grilled dishes like pork chops, salmon steaks, or chicken kebabs. It’s a yummy way to cool off on those scorching hot summer days!
Why You’ll Love This Watermelon Salad
- Quick and Easy! With its 15-minute preparation and minimal list of ingredients, this salad recipe is a total time saver! It’s the perfect go-to dish for when you need to whip up something delicious in a matter of minutes.
- Refreshing Watermelon Salad! The combination of the savory feta cheese and zesty lemon dressing with the sweet watermelon and fragrant mint creates a taste sensation that is bursting with freshness and flavor!
- Versatile Dish! Whether you’re going to a potluck, having a family BBQ, or simply seeking a light and refreshing lunch, this easy salad complements a wide range of menus and is a surefire hit.
- Watermelon – The sweet and refreshing base of the salad! For convenience, I always use seedless watermelon.
- Cucumber – Crispy seedless English cucumber is the ideal choice. However, you can substitute it with regular cucumber and just peel it and remove the seeds.
- Feta Cheese – Gives the salad a layer of salty tang. If you don’t fancy feta, other good options are goat cheese and queso fresco.
- Mint – Aromatic fresh mint leaves add a vibrant touch of incredible herbaceous flavor. Fresh basil leaves are another good choice if you aren’t a fan of mint.
- Red Onion – Adds a subtle bite with its pungent flavor. Sliced shallots work too if you’d prefer a milder onion taste.
- Olive Oil – Use extra-virgin olive oil for the most flavorful dressing. Yet, other oils such as avocado, sunflower, and safflower are perfect too.
- Lemon Juice – Provides a zesty element to the dressing, which helps to balance the sweetness of the watermelon. Fresh lime juice can be used as an alternative.
- Seasonings – Salt and black pepper bring out the flavors of all the ingredients.
Whipping together this salad is an absolute breeze! Simply chop, whisk, and toss, and you’ll have a vibrant and delicious watermelon salad with feta that’s ready to impress in just 15 minutes!
To begin, place the cubed watermelon, diced cucumber, crumbled feta cheese, chopped mint leaves, and red onion into a large bowl. Then gently toss everything together until it’s fully combined. It’s not a good idea to do this step until right before you make and add the dressing.
Next, whisk the extra virgin olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice together in a small bowl. Then season the dressing with a bit of salt and black pepper to taste. Now, pour the lemon dressing over the watermelon mixture and toss the salad until everything is coated.
Once the watermelon salad is ready, serve it immediately. If desired, you can garnish it with some more fresh mint leaves to add a pop of color and freshness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use pre-cut watermelon?
You can, but using freshly cut watermelon helps to ensure the best results. While pre-cut watermelon can be convenient, it often loses some of its moisture and firm texture because it’s been cut ahead of time and packaged.
Can I add other fruits to the watermelon salad?
Yes! Adding some fresh berries like strawberries or blueberries will give the salad another burst of color and sweetness. You could also add tropical fruits like diced pineapple and chunks of mango. Another possibility is to add other kinds of melon like cantaloupe or honeydew.
How can I make it a main course?
There are several different ways to turn this side salad into a main course. To begin, you can add sliced grilled chicken or shrimp. You could also toss in some cooked quinoa or couscous along with nuts or seeds to give it some crunch. Feel free to be as creative as you like.
Expert Tips
- Choose a ripe watermelon. For the most flavor, choose a firm melon that produces a deep resonant sound when it’s tapped. It should also have a yellow spot on its underside, which also indicates that it’s ripe.
- Use a melon baller. For a more visually pleasing and impressive presentation, use a melon baller instead of cutting the watermelon into cubes.
- Gentle toss the salad. When combining the ingredients try your best to evenly coat everything in the dressing without crushing the watermelon cubes.
- Add salt with care. When you season your salad try to keep in mind that the feta cheese is salty. Remember you can also always add more salt, but you can’t add less.
- Serve it immediately. For the best watermelon salad experience, it should be served right after it’s made to fully enjoy the textures and flavors of the fresh ingredients.
Storage
This Watermelon feta salad is best eaten immediately. This also means that I don’t recommend that you make it ahead of time. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container for about 1 to 2 days.
Other Delicious Salad Recipes You’ll Love
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Mediterranean Potato Salad
- Southwest Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
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Watermelon Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 4 cups watermelon (seedless, cubed)
- ½ English cucumber (diced)
- ½ cup feta cheese (crumbled)
- ¼ cup fresh mint (roughly chopped)
- ½ small red onion (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cubed watermelon, diced English cucumber, crumbled feta cheese, chopped mint leaves, and chopped red onion. Toss gently to combine.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Drizzle the dressing over the watermelon salad and toss to coat.
- Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh mint leaves if desired.
Notes
- Choose the right watermelon: For the best results, choose a watermelon that’s ripe, juicy, and sweet. It should be heavy for its size, uniform in shape, and have a dull (not shiny) rind.
- Prep ahead: You can cut the watermelon into cubes a day ahead and store them in the fridge to save prep time on the day of serving.
- Quality of ingredients: Use high-quality feta cheese as it pairs well with the sweetness of the watermelon. Fresh mint leaves add a refreshing flavor, don’t skip it!
- Serve immediately: This salad is best served immediately after it’s made to prevent it from becoming too watery. If you’re planning to serve it later, add the dressing just before serving.
- Variations: Feel free to toss in some olives, or even some thinly sliced red onions for an extra crunch and flavor.
- Customize your dressing: The dressing for this salad is quite flexible. If you prefer a sweeter dressing, add a bit more honey. For a tangier taste, add more lime juice. Always taste and adjust to your preference!
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
