Light, delicious, and refreshing watermelon salad will give a vibrant and cooling touch to any picnic, potluck, or barbecue.
Sweet watermelon is combined with salty feta cheese, crunchy cucumber, and fragrant fresh mint, then given a tangy lift with a simple oil and lime dressing.
Fresh and Flavorful Watermelon Salad
- This easy salad is so colorful and loaded with flavor.
- It has a delightful combination of sweet, minty and tangy flavors.
- This cool and juicy watermelon feta mint salad is refreshing for picnics or BBQs.
- Just a few budget-friendly ingredients and a large watermelon are all it takes.
Ingredients in Watermelon Salad
Watermelon: Select a heavy, vine-ripened watermelon. They should have dark green stripes, and a large, yellow, and flattened “field spot,” where they rested on the ground as they grew. The yellower the field spot, the riper the melon. The large picnic watermelons with seeds tend to have better flavor than smaller seedless fruit. The seeds pop out easily using the tip of a teaspoon.
Cucumber: English cukes, also known as “seedless” can be used whole. They have tender skin and small juicy seeds. You can swap with standard cucumbers but should peel and seed the flesh before chopping it into the salad.
Fresh Mint: Spearmint or peppermint are the two types of mint you will usually find in grocery stores. Either will work.
Feta: Feta cheese crumbles are salty and creamy, for a pleasant complement to the sweetness of the melon. Substitute with parmesan shavings or fresh mozzarella if you like.
Lime Juice: Give a citrusy tang to your watermelon cucumber salad with lime juice. Use fresh lemon juice or orange juice if that’s all you have on hand.
Variations
Try adding some honeydew or cantaloupe to give your watermelon mint salad an extra layer of flavor.
Use a small melon ball scoop for a pretty presentation.
How to Make Watermelon Salad
- In a large bowl, add watermelon cubes, diced cucumber, and chopped mint (recipe below).
- Toss with the lime juice and olive oil dressing.
- Sprinkle with feta crumbles, toss and serve.
What to Serve with Watermelon Salad
Pair this light and cool salad with salty and smoky grilled meats. It goes great with sausage, grilled flank steak, or barbecued drumsticks. Try it with anything smoked, like chicken, turkey, ribs, beef brisket, or pork loin. Then top off the meal with an icy cold pitcher of white wine sangria for the perfect beverage.
Storing Watermelon Salad
- Store watermelon cucumber salad tightly covered for no more than three days in the refrigerator.
- Refresh leftovers with freshly chopped mint leaves.
More Refreshing Summer Salads
Did you try this Watermelon Salad recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Watermelon Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cups cubed watermelon
- ½ long English cucumber diced, about 1 cup (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh mint
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup feta cheese about 4 ounces, or to taste
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- To a large bowl, add watermelon, cucumber, and mint. Sprinkle with lime juice and olive oil. Toss gently to combine.
- Crumble feta and sprinkle over the salad. Gently toss. Taste, and season with salt and pepper as desired. Serve.
Notes
- Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Use a melon baller, instead of cubing watermelon, for pretty presentation.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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chopped fresh tomatoes are good in this salad too~
That sounds great, Sharon. Thanks for sharing!