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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.
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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
- ⅓ 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
Start Cooking- Cut the watermellon.
- 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
Maria Koutsogiannia
Maria is the creator of FoodByMaria and your go-to Greek food expert for cozy, flavor-packed recipes. Inspired by her Mediterranean roots, she brings traditional Greek flavors, feel-good ingredients, and a whole lot of joy to everyday cooking.
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Perfect for summer!