This easy watermelon salad recipe with feta, mint and balsamic dressing is the perfect side dish for summer. Using only a few simple ingredients, this recipe is fresh and vibrant and would make an impressive dish for entertaining.
There’s nothing like biting into a juicy watermelon on a hot summer’s day. The taste brings back memories of picnics, beaches, and jumping through the sprinkler in the back yard. Watermelon is the perfect thirst-quenching fruit, it’s super hydrating and packed with vitamins A and C.
Table of Contents
Selecting the Ingredients
Starting with a ripe watermelon is the secret to this recipe. The best watermelons aren’t the prettiest, but have a dull yellow “field spot”, which is the side where the watermelon sat as it grew. The melon should be heavy, and when you rap on it with your knuckles, you should feel that it’s firm, not soft.
As a kid, did you ever put a little bit of salt on your watermelon before taking a bite? Salt brings the sweetness of the watermelon to the forefront and changes the flavor subtly. Adding some savory feta cheese gives the same effect. The feta offers a salty bite, balancing with the sweet watermelon and mild cucumber. Use good quality feta with a creamy texture.
While the watermelon is the star of this recipe, the fresh mint adds a lovely cooling effect to the dish. It is so aromatic and bright. Almost any variety of mint would work wonderfully in this dish – spearmint, pineapple mint, even chocolate mint!
And if you would like to grow your own watermelon or mint, you can check out how in our articles How to Grow Watermelons: Planting, Caring and Harvesting Watermelons and How To Grow Mint: Complete Guide To Growing Mint At Home.
The balsamic and olive oil dressing brings all of the ingredients in this salad together with its depth of flavor. If you can, invest in a good bottle of balsamic, because not all vinegar is made equal. They range widely in price and in taste depending on their composition, where they are made, and how long they are aged.
What Goes With Watermelon Salad?
This watermelon salad is incredibly diverse, and it can become your go-to signature recipe for almost any occasion.
Best of all, watermelon salad goes so delightfully well for summer outdoor entertaining. It adds fresh, bright flavors to any meal. Think grilled chicken, fish, shrimp or steaks served with crusty bread and watermelon salad.
Watermelon salad can also be used as an antipasto, paired with other summer melon dishes like cantaloupe and prosciutto, or honeydew and blueberries. A cherry tomato, bocconcini, and basil skewer would also match flavors nicely. Or, elevate this colorful side dish to a light meal by adding a couple of grilled shrimp skewers.
No matter what meal you are serving it with, this watermelon salad is sure to be devoured by kids and big kids alike.
Tips
- Due to the freshness of the ingredients, this salad is best eaten on the day.
- The salt in the feta is usually enough seasoning, so this recipe does not include the addition of salt and pepper. You can, of course, add them if you like.
Watermelon Salad Ingredients
4 Cups Watermelon cubed
2.5 Cups Cucumber (about 2 cucumbers)
1 Cup Feta
1/4 Cup Mint Leaves
Watermelon Salad Balsamic Dressing
2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
How to Make Watermelon Salad Recipe
- Start by cutting the watermelon into bite-sized cubes.
- Then slice the cucumbers lengthways and then slice them.
- Chop or shred the mint leaves or keep them whole if they aren’t too large.
- Next, crumble the feta into small chunks.
- Then assemble the watermelon salad by combining the ingredients into a medium-sized serving bowl.
- In a small jar, combine the balsamic vinegar with the olive oil and give it a shake to mix. Dress the salad just before serving, for freshness.
Watermelon salad is a dream for entertaining because of how easy it is to make. Using only a few simple ingredients, its luscious pink and vibrant green colors make it a tempting and distinctive addition to a backyard party. And you don’t even have to think about turning the oven on!
Watermelon, Mint and Feta Salad Recipe with Balsamic
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Watermelon cubed
- 2.5 Cups Cucumber (2 medium Cucumbers)
- 1 Cup Feta
- 1/4 Cup Mint Leaves
Watermelon Salad Balsamic Dressing
- 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
- 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Instructions
- Start by cutting the watermelon into bite sized cubes.
- Then slice the cucumbers lengthways and then slice them.
- Chop or shred the mint leaves or keep them whole if they aren’t too large.
- Next, crumble the feta into small chunks.
- Then assemble the watermelon salad by combining the ingredients into a medium sized serving bowl.
- In a small jar, combine the balsamic vinegar with the olive oil and give it a shake to mix. Dress the salad just before serving, for freshness.
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Further reading:
- Vegan Tacos Recipe With Jerk-Spiced Jackfruit
- Brown Rice, Kale, Beet and Feta Salad Recipe
- Easy Banana Coconut Bread Recipe Without Butter
- Oyster Mushroom Risotto Recipe
- Why Is My Watermelon Bitter? Answered!
- How to Grow Cucumbers: Planting, Growing and Harvesting
- How To Grow Mint: Complete Guide To Growing Mint At Home
- Why Is My Mint Bitter? Answered!
- Eating Watermelon Rind With Recipe Ideas
- 18 Recipes for Carrot Salad – That Aren’t Boring!
