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This Watermelon Feta Salad is my go-to summer side dish. The sweet and salty combination of feta cheese and watermelon is so satisfying, you’re going to want to make it all the time. It has just enough sweetness to make it a great dessert, but it’s also light enough to be served alongside your main course.
Watermelon Feta Salad
Watermelon is such a fun fruit, especially when it’s peak season and you have so many options. I love using it in this summer salad because it’s sweet enough on its own without adding any additional sugars or syrups plus it makes the perfect vessel for all of those tasty toppings! It is also a great way to get extra Vitamin C!
This recipe takes just 15 minutes to make and can be served alongside grilled protein like chicken and fish, or as an alternative to a traditional pasta salad for a summer potluck. You can make this salad ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it.
Ingredients for Watermelon Feta Salad
Two of the main ingredients for this light, fragrant salad recipe are included right in the name. Once you have those, here’s all you need to put this gorgeous salad together:
- Watermelon – see below tips on how to properly cut a watermelon
- Feta Cheese – a substitute for sheep milk feta could be goat cheese, cottage cheese or a mild cotija cheese
- Blueberries – fresh taste best, however you could use frozen berries if they’re not in season
- Cucumbers – either slice or cut into chunks, your preference
- Fresh Mint leaves – find these in the produce section of the grocery store
- Fresh basil – again, they can be found in the produce section
- Limes – you’ll need the juice of two limes, but you can also use the zest of the outer lime for extra flavor
- Salt and pepper – to taste
- You can also add any other ingredients that you have on hand: red onion, green onion, lemon juice, and fresh herbs
- For added crunch and texture toss in a handful of walnuts, almonds or any other kind of nuts you like.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add the watermelon, blueberries, cucumber, and feta to a large bowl. Stir to distribute the ingredients evenly.
- Add the mint, basil, lime juice, lime zest (optional), and salt (optional). I like to cut my herbs by putting the leaves all in one stack and then rolling them up and slicing them like you would slice cinnamon rolls. This creates really pretty ribbon shapes for the salad.
- Stir everything together really well and chill until ready to serve. Give it a quick stir before serving.
Not a Feta Fan?
To answer the question before it inevitably gets asked, yes you can leave out the feta. I think you will totally be missing out! However, if you want to leave it out that’s fine. It won’t change the recipe at all except I’d probably leave out the salt as well since it will be a sweeter salad without the cheese.
How to Cut a Watermelon
For this watermelon salad, you’ll want to cut the fruit into bite size pieces. You can use a melon baller also, but here’s how to get perfect pieces using a knife.
- Use a solid surface like a cutting board or butcher’s block and a large sharp knife.
- Slice the ends of the watermelon just until you see the red fruit.
- Place the watermelon on a freshly cut end and slice the rind off, working top to bottom all the way around the melon.
- Next, cut the melon in half lengthwise from the top.
- Then take each half and place cut side down. Make slices about one inch thick.
- Then cut each slice into strips, then cut those strips into cubes.
What to Eat with Watermelon Feta Salad?
This salad goes great with all your classic summer BBQ entrees! Try it with burgers, grilled chicken, steaks, grilled shrimp or grilled fish. Add a veggie tray, potato salad, and our Picnic Cake and you have a perfect picnic!
What Dressing Goes Best with Watermelon Feta Salad?
This salad doesn’t have a dressing per se, but it is topped with lime juice, chopped basil, and fresh mint. For more of a dressing, drizzle balsamic vinegar or extra virgin olive oil on top of the salad. Not too much, though! Let the flavors of the salad ingredients shine through.
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How to Make Watermelon Feta Salad
Watermelon Feta Salad
Ingredients
- 3 pounds watermelon cut into cubes
- 24 ounces blueberries
- 2 cucumbers sliced and quartered
- 8 ounces feta cheese cut into cubes
- 10 mint leaves sliced
- 5 basil leaves sliced
- 2 limes
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine watermelon, blueberries, cucumbers, and feta cheese.
- Add mint, basil, and the juice from both limes. (Optional: add the zest from the limes as well.) Sprinkle with salt if desired.
- Stir until all ingredients are coated in lime juice. Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
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- You can also add any other ingredients that you have on hand: red onion, green onion, lemon juice, and fresh herbs
-
- For added crunch and texture toss in a handful of walnuts, almonds or any other kind of nuts you like.
- For more of a dressing, drizzle balsamic vinegar or extra virgin olive oil on top of the salad. Not too much, though! Let the flavors of the salad ingredients shine through.
I am a total fan of fete cheese and watermelon so I can’t wait to make this salad. The mint and basil sounds like a delicious combo of flavors.
This looks so refreshing. Even though the weather is getting cooler, I might just have to make this to hold onto those last hints of summer!
Loved this salad! So fresh and easy to make 🙂
What a refreshing and flavorful salad. My family is going to love this.
Great Idea, I would put cheese everywhere.