30 Minute Meals
Fresh Watermelon Salad
Prep
15 minutes
Yield
4 -6 as a side salad
This Watermelon Salad is so easy to make and perfect for a BBQ or potluck. I've paired with feta, fresh herbs, and a delicious fig dressing.
This fresh Watermelon Salad is the perfect recipe for your summer barbecue or picnic. It combines refreshing watermelon with the saltiness of feta cheese, a pop of flavor from the fresh herbs, and is topped with a fig balsamic dressing. The combination of flavors explodes in your mouth and the best part is, it’s so easy to make!
❤️ Why You’ll Love Watermelon Salad
- Fresh: The fresh watermelon paired with the fresh herbs really gives such a refreshing flavor that is perfect for summer.
- Easy: A salad shouldn’t be complicated to make and this salad is so easy! You can whip it up with a few simple ingredients in no time.
- Versatile: Serve this Watermelon Salad with your favorite barbecued meat and veggies or bring it to a pot luck or picnic.
🍲 Ingredients
Watermelon – Watermelon is a refreshing summer fruit that is made of 92% water, making it great for hydration. It also is a source of vitamins A and C, and antioxidants that help protect your cells. Watermelon pairs so well with both sweet and savory dishes. It’s also great on its own!
Fresh Herbs – This recipe combines fresh basil and fresh mint. It’s critical to use fresh herbs vs. dried for the freshest results and best pop of flavor in this salad.
Feta – Feta cheese adds a saltiness to this recipe that helps balance out the sweetness alongside the herbs. Feta is always a go-to in my fridge because it’s so versatile and can be thrown on any bowl, salad, or dish to add a little tang and saltiness.
👩🍳 How to Make Watermelon Salad
- Add the cubed watermelon to a large platter or serving bowl along with the thinly sliced onion and chopped pistachios.
- Make the dressing by whisking together all of the dressing ingredients.
- Drizzle ¾ of the dressing over the watermelon, onion and pistachios and gently toss.
- Top with the feta cubes, fresh mint leaves and fresh basil leaves.
- Drizzle the remaining dressing over top of the salad and serve immediately.
🗒 Tips and Tricks
- Picking a Watermelon: Look for a watermelon that feels heavy for its size and has a deep, hollow sound when you tap it. A creamy yellow spot on the bottom indicates it ripened on the ground.
- Choose Seedless: While you can use seeded watermelon, a seedless variety will save you prep time.
- Serve Immediately: While the salad is best served fresh, it can be covered and refrigerated for a day or two. Some find the flavors blend even better after sitting for an hour.
🗒 Variations
If you like this Watermelon Salad, here are some other variations that I think you’ll also love:
🗒 Best served with
- Chicken Souvlaki
- Rack of Lamb
- Salmon Kebabs
- Burgers, Hot Dogs or Sausages
👝 How to Store Leftovers
This salad is best enjoyed when made fresh but you can prep it a few hours in advance and store it in your fridge. Just make sure it doesn’t sit outside in the heat for too long or it’ll get mushy.
🤔 Common Questions
You can cube it, use a melon baller for spheres, or even cut it into wedges or triangles for a more rustic look. Aim for bite-sized pieces that are easy to eat with other ingredients.
Goat cheese, fresh mozzarella (bocconcini), or even a crumbled cotija cheese can be good alternatives.
Cucumbers add a refreshing crunch, red onion or shallots can provide a nice bite, and berries can add another layer of sweetness.
Fresh Watermelon Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups cubed watermelon
- 1 cup cubed feta cheese
- 8-10 fresh mint leaves
- 8-10 fresh basil leaves
- ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1/3 cup chopped pistachios
For the dressing
- 1 tbsp fig jam
- 3 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp honey
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- ¼ tsp chili flakes
- 1 large or 2 small garlic cloves pressed
Instructions
- Add the cubed watermelon to a large platter or serving bowl along with the thinly sliced onion and chopped pistachios.
- Make the dressing by whisking together all of the dressing ingredients.
- Drizzle ¾ of the dressing over the watermelon, onion and pistachios and gently toss.
- Top with the feta cubes, fresh mint leaves and fresh basil leaves.
- Drizzle the remaining dressing over top of the salad and serve immediately.
Notes
- This salad is best enjoyed as soon as it’s made!
- This is a showstopper salad that pairs beautifully with anything from the grill like our Chicken Souvlaki
