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Sweet and savory, this Watermelon Salad with feta cheese and fresh mint is a light and refreshing side salad that comes together in minutes, tossed with a quick and easy homemade vinaigrette. It’s perfect for summer picnics, potlucks, or grilling out at home.
Easy Summer Salad with Watermelon
With cubes of juicy watermelon and crumbled feta, this easy watermelon salad is sweet, savory, and salty, all in one bite. Watermelon and feta may seem like a strange combo – I definitely raised my eyebrow at first – but it works. The flavor combination is so perfect! When I think back to picnics at the beach on hot summer days, watermelon and feta cheese are what my parents would bring with them every time.
Then again, considering many people add salt to their watermelon, I suppose watermelon and salty feta aren’t too far of a stretch. Add in some fresh mint leaves, and you have the trifecta of bold, mouthwatering flavors.
While you can turn this watermelon salad into a meal, I most often serve it as a side dish. It’s perfect for potlucks and picnics, as it adds a pop of color to any table and is a nice alternative to heavier mayo-based salads or pasta salads. This salad has become one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh ingredients on a hot summer day.
What You’ll Need
This feta and watermelon salad is made with just a handful of fresh ingredients. Most can be purchased fresh at the grocery store or farmer’s market.
For the Salad
- Mixed Salad Greens: Pick up a pre-made mix or choose your favorite lettuce. Substitute with any preferred leafy greens, such as Romaine lettuce, spinach, or arugula.
- Watermelon: Adds a sweet and juicy element to the salad. Remove the seeds for easy eating, and cut it into cubes. You can also grab a seedless watermelon. Cantaloupe or honeydew melon could offer a similar texture.
- Blueberries: Berries add an extra burst of sweetness and color. You could also try it with raspberries for a different twist.
- Red Onion: Thinly sliced onions add a sharp contrast to the sweet fruits.
- Crumbled Feta Cheese: Provides a salty, creamy garnish that complements the sweet watermelon. Goat cheese is a great alternative.
- Freshly Cracked Black Pepper: Enhances the overall flavor with a slight kick.
- Mint Leaves: For garnish, mint leaves add a refreshing and aromatic touch. For a different herb flavor, substitute fresh basil.
For the Vinaigrette
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The base of the vinaigrette, helping to combine the ingredients.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice adds a tangy brightness to the vinaigrette. Use lemon juice for a slightly different citrus note.
- Minced Garlic: Infuses the vinaigrette with a robust flavor.
- Salt & Black Pepper: Enhances the flavors of the vinaigrette.
How to Make Watermelon Salad
This easy watermelon salad recipe comes together in just a few minutes with minimal prep. All you need is about 20 minutes to prepare and assemble the ingredients.
- Combine the salad ingredients. In a large bowl, toss together the greens, watermelon, blueberries, and onions.
- Prepare the vinaigrette. In a separate bowl, whisk together all the vinaigrette ingredients.
- Garnish and serve. When you’re ready to serve, add the vinaigrette to the salad and toss to combine. Then, garnish with the feta, cracked black pepper, and mint leaves. If you like, drizzle a bit of balsamic glaze over the salad, too.
Recipe Tips & Variations
Are you looking forward to making this fresh watermelon salad? I don’t blame you! Keep these tips in mind to help you make the best salad.
- Make the vinaigrette ahead of time. The vinaigrette can be made ahead of time and I often recommend making it at least a few hours in advance, for the best flavor.
- Add the vinaigrette when serving. If you’re going to be enjoying the entire salad, go ahead and toss it with the vinaigrette, but otherwise, I recommend drizzling the vinaigrette directly into the individual bowls of salads.
- Use chilled fruit. I find this salad is most refreshing when the watermelon and blueberries are chilled. If they’re not chilled before making the salad, you can always put the salad in the fridge for a an hour or two before serving.
- Switch up the herbs. While I love the light and refreshing flavor of mint, you can swap it out for other fresh herbs. Basil is another great option.
- Add more veggies. For an extra crunch and burst of freshness, toss in some chopped English cucumbers or sliced Persian cucumbers. Cherry tomatoes also pair nicely with the sweet watermelon and salty feta.
- Use balsamic vinegar in a pinch. If you don’t have the time or the ingredients for the homemade vinaigrette, or you just want a different flavor, balsamic vinegar or glaze will work in a pinch.
Serving Suggestions
This watermelon and mint salad is great for summer BBQs and potlucks and goes exceptionally well with these grilled chicken thighs or this honey mustard chicken. This perfect summer salad is also a great accompaniment to a juicy grilled steak and these fantastic easy shrimp skewers. Grilled pizza, too!
ENJOY!
More Summer Salad Recipes:
- Tuna Salad with Avocado and Cucumbers
- Radish Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Easy Sesame Cucumber Salad
- Tomato Avocado Corn Salad
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Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 to 8 cups torn mixed salad greens
- 4 cups watermelon cubes, seeds removed
- 1 cup blueberries
- ½ cup thinly sliced red onions
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese, for garnish
- freshly cracked black pepper, for garnish
- mint leaves, for garnish
For the Vinaigrette
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, you can also use lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- In a large salad bowl, combine salad greens, watermelon, blueberries, and red onion; toss to combine.
- In a small mixing bowl combine olive oil, lime juice, minced mint, garlic, salt, and pepper; whisk to incorporate.
- Just before serving, gently toss the salad with the vinaigrette. Taste and adjust as needed.
- Garnish with crumbled feta, cracked black pepper, and mint leaves.
- Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Delicious!!
The ingredients and the directions indicate that mint is needed for garnish. Then, the directions indicate that minced mint is also needed for the dressing, but I do not see the amount of minced mint needed in the ingredients. How much minced mint is needed for thedressing? Thanks in advance.