Juicy Watermelon Salad with Feta Cheese, Cucumber, and Fresh Mint
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On a hot summer day, there’s nothing more refreshing than a juicy watermelon. This watermelon salad is absolutely rejuvenating with sweet juicy watermelon, crisp cucumber, tangy feta cheese, and the fresh mint! It's the perfect potluck recipe to share with the people you love on a hot, sunny day.
why I love this watermelon salad:
What’s not to love about watermelon? I love a summer side salad that is easy to put together and is ready to eat in minutes. A bright fruit salad that is delicious and beautiful to look at is my favorite kind of recipe.
Easy & Quick to Make. This salad comes together in about 20 minutes, including prep time to gather and chop your ingredients. Once everything is ready, you simply toss all of the ingredients together and serve. The ingredients are easy to find, and it’s perfectly healthy with no added sugar.
Perfect Flavor Combination. The sweet juicy watermelon paired with crisp and bright cucumbers is the perfect combination of fruit and vegetables. The addition of salty feta cheese and mint gives this summer fruit salad a unique flavor and truly refreshing feel. I love adding some flaky sea salt to the top of my salad to bring out the flavor even more!
Beautiful Presentation. If you are looking for a beautiful salad to bring to a summer barbecue or potluck, this is a great choice! It’s bright and colorful, and everything looks so pretty tossed together. The fresh mint leaves truly bring the final salad together, I think, paired alongside the pink-red tones of the watermelon.
gathering ingredients to make watermelon salad:
To make this delicious watermelon salad, you will need to gather a few key ingredients. This salad is excellent served on hot summer days for a pick-me-up, you will easily be able to find these ingredients at your local grocery store, farmer’s market, or perhaps even in your own garden.
Watermelon. It can be difficult to choose the perfect watermelon! I have found that a super firm and dull colored watermelon often gives me the best results, and I always tap it and listen for a deep echo sound.
Cucumbers. English cucumbers are the best kind for this recipe, but really any ripe cucumber will work.
Feta Cheese. You will want crumbled feta cheese for this recipe.
Fresh Mint. Make sure that you use fresh mint for your salad rather than dried mint, which will not have the same texture and flavor.
Limes. You will need about 6 limes for this recipe, or about 1/4 cup (60 ml) lime juice and the zest of about 2 to 3 limes.
Salt & Pepper.
how to make watermelon salad:
This watermelon salad with feta cheese and fresh mint is incredibly simple and easy to put together. It’s ready in about 20 minutes, at most, and can be served immediately!
Step One: Combine the ingredients in a large bowl all at once. Toss the ingredients until everything is well coated and evenly distributed, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Step Two: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer your salad to an airtight container. Store the salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour if you wish to serve it chilled. Otherwise, you can serve the salad right away.
how to store this recipe:
This watermelon salad can be made ahead of time and stored in your refrigerator until ready to serve. I prefer it served chilled, but it also tastes great at room temperature! I also think it tastes better after it has sat and marinated for a few hours before serving.
Store your watermelon salad in the refrigerator, covered. It should last for about 3 to 4 days for the best texture. The texture will lose its crispness as time passes.
substitutions & variations:
If you don’t want to use feta: You can use other firm and crumbly cheeses like halloumi or goat cheese in the place of feta cheese. Because this salad is already quite wet and juicy, I do not recommend substituting in cottage cheese or ricotta.
If you don’t want to use mint: You can definitely omit using the mint, as the flavor can be rather strong! As a replacement, I would recommend trying a sweet basil like Genovese or Thai Basil for a fresh and bright flavor. Otherwise, you can leave the mint out entirely.
Make it Balsamic. This recipe can be quite sweet. For a less sweet flavor profile, try adding some balsamic vinegar and/or balsamic reduction to your salad for a twist! Replace 2 tablespoons of the lime juice with balsamic vinegar. Before serving, drizzle about 1 to 2 tablespoons of balsamic reduction over the salad.
final thoughts:
I hope that you enjoy making this simple and beautiful salad. It’s an eye-catching side salad to serve at your next summer gathering, and it’s delicious, too! I love summer for these easy and quick recipes that feel so good for your body. Packed with juicy watermelon and salty feta, it’s sure to become your favorite summer snack.
xoxo Kayla
Juicy Watermelon Salad with Feta Cheese, Cucumber, and Fresh Mint
Ingredients
- 1 medium watermelon, about 8 cups (1,320 g), cut into 2-inch (5-cm) cubes
- 1 to 2 medium cucumbers, about 2 cups (280 g), cut into 1/4-inch (6-mm) slices and then quartered
- 6 oz (170 g) feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tbsp (6 g) fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) lime juice
- Zest of 2 to 3 limes
- 2 tsp (6 g) kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the watermelon, cucumber, feta, mint, lime juice, lime zest, salt, and pepper. Gently toss the ingredients to coat well, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the salad to an airtight container. Place the covered salad into the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Serve the salad cold or at room temperature. Store the salad in the refrigerator, covered, for about 4 days.
Notes
- This salad tastes great chilled or at room temperature. If you prefer it at room temperature, you may serve the salad immediately rather than chilling it in the fridge after tossing.
- If you do not want to use feta cheese, you can substitute in goat cheese or halloumi. This salad is already pretty wet, so I would not recommend a super soft cheese like cottage cheese or ricotta.
- If you are unsure about adding mint, add only 1 to 2 teaspoons and check the flavor of the salad before adding more.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
159Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
