Watermelon and feta cheese go together incredibly well. Creamy salty feta cheese paired with a sweet juicy watermelon is the epitome of summertime. This deliciously refreshing salad is light and bright, made with red onions, crunchy cucumbers and a tangy vinaigrette to top it off.
It's one of my favorite summer salads to serve when entertaining outdoors!
This summer salad is one of my favorites because of how refreshing and healthy it is. It pairs well with heavier proteins and can be served as either a side dish or an easy appetizer.
If you're looking for other fun watermelon recipes, you can make my watermelon feta stars (great for 4th of July or Memorial Day) or my boozy watermelon skewers!
Watermelon Salad Ingredients
Choosing Your Watermelon
Okay, I know we all claim to know how to pick the perfect watermelon but I have never seen one that consistently works.
Things To Look For:
🍉 large yellow spot (where it was laying on the ground)
🍉 heavy (which means its sweet and juicy)
🍉 dark red color (juicy and sweet)
🍉 dark green stripes
Look for a ripe SWEET watermelon if you have awesome watermelon picking capabilities! Seedless is ideal for this salad because spitting out seeds at the table is not very good manners.
For this recipe, you will use about half to โ of a small sweetless watermelon.
📝 Save this recipe for later!
Feta Cheese
Choosing a GOOD quality feta cheese is a MUST. Some feta cheeses are packaged in the wrapper by itself which tends to be more dry and crumby then creamy.
If you can, look for a CREAMY feta cheese. These are the ones that are sold sitting in feta brine. (The salty water that covers the cheese.)
It is the only feta I purchase. If you can find one imported from Greece, even better!!
Watermelon Salad Dressing
This watermelon salad would be a bit dry/bland without some sort of dressing. But at the same time, we don't want to overpower the flavors of the watermelon and feta. So I used a light, bright dressing that adds just enough flavor to bring this salad home.
Salad Variations
-
Kick up the heat and make this a SPICY Watermelon Feta Salad by adding sliced jalapeños or red pepper flakes for a fiery twist that complements the sweetness of the watermelon and the creaminess of the feta.
-
Add other fruit to your salad like tangy grapefruit, orange, blueberries or strawberries, all which go well with feta cheese.
-
Give your salad a textural upgrade with the addition of toasted pine nuts, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds enhancing the overall crunch and nuttiness of the salad.
-
For a burst of earthy flavors, consider adding baby arugula or mixed salad greens to your Watermelon Feta Salad, enhancing the overall freshness and peppery notes.
-
Create a tropical twist by adding chunks of ripe mango or pineapple to your Watermelon Feta Salad, bringing a burst of tropical sweetness and a hint of tanginess that pairs perfectly with the feta cheese.
-
Experiment with other herbaceous flavors by swapping the herbs with fresh cilantro or dill.
-
Transform your Watermelon Salad into a heartier meal by adding protein-rich ingredients like grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas, turning it into a satisfying and nutritious main course.
-
Finish off your Watermelon Feta Salad with a balsamic glaze to add a sweet and tangy flavor addition that's tasty AND beautiful drizzled over top.
Add some homemade croutons to hearty the salad up a bit.
Making This Salad In Advance
I do not recommend making this salad too far in advance as it will become very watery. Instead, chop up your watermelon cubes, feta cubes, onion, cucumbers and herbs the night before (or a few hours before serving).
Whisk up the vinegarette dressing in advance too. Store everything SEPARATELY. Then toss the salad ingredients in a large bowl and serve within 2-3 hours.
What To Serve This Salad With
I love to serve this easy watermelon salad at summer BBQ's alongside of grilled chicken, ribs, or steak. It could also be a course in itself!
A side of crispy bread is great to pair with the feta cheese as well! If you have EXTRA feta cheese, you need to make my spicy feta spread or my FRIED feta cheese!
These grilled recipes are my favorites in the summertime:
Other Suggested Summer Salads To Serve
๐ Recipe
Watermelon Feta Salad
Ingredients
- 5 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1" cubes
- 2-3 mini persian cucumbers, sliced into rounds
- 1-2 cups feta cheese, cut into cubes
- 1 bunch fresh mint and/or basil leaves, chopped
- ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 large lemon, juiced ((about 2 tbsps))
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
📝 Save this recipe for later!
Recipe Notes
- Kick up the heat and make this a SPICY Watermelon Feta Salad by adding sliced jalapeños or red pepper flakes for a fiery twist that complements the sweetness of the watermelon and the creaminess of the feta.
- Add other fruit to your salad like tangy grapefruit, orange, blueberries or strawberries, all which go well with feta cheese.
- Give your salad a textural upgrade with the addition of toasted pine nuts, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds enhancing the overall crunch and nuttiness of the salad.
- For a burst of earthy flavors, consider adding baby arugula or mixed salad greens to your Watermelon Feta Salad, enhancing the overall freshness and peppery notes.
- Create a tropical twist by adding chunks of ripe mango or pineapple to your Watermelon Feta Salad, bringing a burst of tropical sweetness and a hint of tanginess that pairs perfectly with the feta cheese.
- Experiment with other herbaceous flavors by swapping the herbs with fresh cilantro or dill.
- Transform your Watermelon Salad into a heartier meal by adding protein-rich ingredients like grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas, turning it into a satisfying and nutritious main course.
- Finish off your Watermelon Feta Salad with a balsamic glaze to add a sweet and tangy flavor addition that's tasty AND beautiful drizzled over top.
Comments
No Comments