Watermelon Summer Salad
This Watermelon Summer Salad is fresh, colorful, juicy, and incredibly easy to make.Sweet watermelon pairs beautifully with salty feta and crisp cucumber.Fresh mint adds a cooling aroma and refreshing herbal flavor.A simple lime and olive oil dressing brings all the ingredients together.The salad requires no cooking and can be prepared in about 15 minutes.Serve it chilled as a refreshing side dish, appetizer, picnic salad, or light lunch.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 4 cups seedless watermelon, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 large cucumber, chopped
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 2 tablespoons toasted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds, optional
For the Dressing
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon finely grated lime zest
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- A small pinch of salt
Instructions
- Cut the watermelon into bite-sized cubes. Remove any visible seeds and place the cubes in a large bowl. If the watermelon is particularly juicy, gently drain away excess liquid before assembling the salad.
- Wash and chop the cucumber into small pieces. Thinly slice the red onion and gently separate the slices. Tear or roughly chop the fresh mint and basil leaves.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lime juice, honey, lime zest, black pepper, and a small pinch of salt. Taste and adjust the lime juice or honey according to your preference.
- Add the watermelon, cucumber, red onion, mint, and basil to a large serving bowl. Gently toss the ingredients together, being careful not to crush the watermelon.
- Scatter the crumbled feta cheese over the top. Adding it toward the end helps keep the cheese intact and gives the finished salad a beautiful appearance.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving. Gently toss once or twice, then sprinkle with toasted seeds if desired. Serve immediately while everything is fresh and chilled.
Notes
- Watermelon: Choose a ripe, sweet, seedless watermelon for the best flavor.
- Cucumber: English cucumber works especially well because it has a crisp texture and fewer seeds.
- Feta: Block feta crumbled by hand generally provides a creamier texture than very fine pre-crumbled feta.
- Mint: Fresh mint is highly recommended because it gives the salad its characteristic cooling flavor.
- Onion: If you prefer a milder onion flavor, soak the sliced onion in cold water for 5–10 minutes before draining.
- Dressing: Add the dressing shortly before serving to prevent the watermelon from releasing too much juice.
- Cheese alternatives: Goat cheese or a mild salad cheese can be used instead of feta.
- Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated, but the salad is best enjoyed fresh because watermelon gradually releases liquid.