Why I love this watermelon feta salad recipe
I have to tell you about my latest summer salad obsession—watermelon feta salad!
It’s the kind of recipe that just screams summer with its juicy watermelon, tangy feta cheese, and fresh mint.
Toss in some sweet blueberries and coat it all with a zesty lemon dressing, and you’ve got a salad that’s as refreshing as a cool breeze on a hot day.
I love how easy it is to throw together, and it always gets rave reviews.
Which is why this salad has become my go-to for cookouts and picnics.
And the red, white and blue colors also make it the perfect addition to your 4th of July menu.
Looking for more simple summer salads? You'll love Berry Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette and 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad.
Ingredients
Here is your shopping list (for 6 side salads):
- Fresh produce – ½ watermelon, 1 8-ounce package fresh blueberries, ¼ cup of fresh mint leaves, ½ red onion
- Dairy – 1 cup feta cheese crumbles
For the dressing:
- Oil – 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh produce – 1 lemon or lime
- Seasoning – ¼ teaspoon salt, teaspoon ground black pepper
Substitutions & Additions
- Use goat cheese or blue cheese instead of the feta if you prefer.
- You can omit the red onion if you’re not a big fan of onions.
- Fresh basil can be used instead of mint.
- A balsamic vinaigrette (either store bought or homemade like the one I use on this berry salad) works well instead of the lemon dressing.
- Feel free to add other fresh fruits or vegetables, such as strawberries, cucumber or celery if desired.
How to make watermelon feta salad
1 | Prep work
Start by cutting the watermelon in half and scooping it out with a melon baller or a round teaspoon. Or cutting it into bite-sized cubes.
Next, chop the mint leaves into small, bite-sized pieces.
For the red onion, slice it as thinly as possible. This way, it blends well with the other ingredients without overpowering them.
Juice half a lemon (or lime).
2 | Make the dressing
In a small bowl or jar, combine the lemon or lime juice with olive oil, and add a pinch of salt and pepper.
If you’re using a jar, you can shake it up to mix everything together.
If you’re using a bowl, whisk the ingredients until they’re well combined.
3 | Make the salad
In a large bowl, combine the watermelon, blueberries, feta cheese, and sliced onion.
Be gentle when adding the ingredients to avoid crushing the watermelon.
Pour the dressing over the salad and mix everything carefully.
Finally, top the salad with the chopped mint. You can mix the mint in if you like, but I prefer to sprinkle it on top for a pop of color.
Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing flavors!
Serving suggestions
Serve the salad in a chilled bowl to keep it refreshing.
Or for a fun summery look, you can use half of the hollowed out watermelon as a bowl. I like to do this if I’m taking it to a BBQ or picnic because you don’t have to worry about bringing it home when you’re done.
How to make ahead
To make ahead of time:
- Prepare the dressing and store it in a separate container in the refrigerator.
- Prepare the watermelon, blueberries, and onion, and store them in an airtight container.
- Chop the mint leaves and store them in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag.
- Then combine all ingredients (including the feta cheese) an hour or two before serving and keep it refrigerated to maintain freshness and texture.
You don’t want to combine the feta and watermelon too far in advance because the salt in the feta can draw the water out of the watermelon. So you may end up with a bowl half full of liquid. Which doesn’t look too appealing and is difficult to serve.
Storage
Store watermelon feta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Consume within a day or two for the best freshness and flavor.
Stir gently before serving to redistribute the dressing and ingredients.
Watermelon Feta Salad
Ingredients
For the salad:
- ½ watermelon balled or cubed
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbles
- ½ cup red onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves roughly chopped
For the dressing:
- 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon lemon or lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Equipment
- measuring cups and spoons
- Sharp knife
- melon baller
- small bowl or jar (for the dressing)
- Salad bowl
- mixing spoon
Instructions
- Add the watermelon, blueberries, feta cheese and onion to a large bowl.½ watermelon, 1 cup fresh blueberries, 1 cup feta cheese crumbles, ½ cup red onion
- Pour the dressing over the salad and mix carefully so you don’t crush the watermelon.
- Top with the chopped mint, and serve.¼ cup fresh mint leaves
To make the dressing:
- Add the lemon (or lime juice), olive oil, salt and pepper to a small bowl or jar. Whisk or shake to combine.3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 Tablespoon lemon or lime juice, ¼ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Notes
- You can substitute goat cheese or blue cheese instead of the feta if you prefer.
- Balsamic vinaigrette will work instead of the lemon dressing.
- Other vegetables such as cucumbers or celery can be added to the salad if desired.
- prepare the watermelon, blueberries, onion and mint in a bowl and store in the refrigerator.
- make the salad dressing in a jar.
- Just before serving, add the feta cheese and dressing to the salad and mix.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
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