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 fresh from the garden or farmer’s market. This easy-to-make watermelon salad is positively rejuvenating with sweet and juicy watermelon, crisp cucumbers, tangy feta cheese, and the brightness of fresh mint! It's the perfect picnic recipe to share with the people you love on a sunny day.
Exploring the Recipe
When the summer days become long, hot, and humid the last thing I want to do is turn on my oven! Summer foods are often some of my favorites for their ease and freshness; most of the ingredients taste perfectly delicious without any cooking required. If the food is served cold, that’s even better! This watermelon feta salad is the perfect solution for a sweet craving when the weather is simply too hot to bake anything, or if you are looking for a healthier option for your dessert. It’s refreshing, chilled, and full of garden fresh flavors. 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!
why You’ll Love This Recipe
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.
Ingredients & Substitutions
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 with Feta Cheese
Wash and prepare the fruit and vegetables
Combine the fresh ingredients with feta cheese, lime juice, and seasonings
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour
Serve the salad cold
Step One: 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.
Step Two: 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.
Step Three: Serve the salad cold or at room temperature with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for texture. Store the salad in the refrigerator, covered, for about 4 days.
Tips for Success
Chill Before Serving— This salad’s flavor enhances and tastes better as it sits! I highly recommend leaving the salad to marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving for the best flavor.
Don’t Crush the Watermelon— This salad is really sweet and rather juicy! Be careful when mixing the ingredients together that you do not overly crush the pieces of watermelon, else you may end up with a watermelon soup.
Make Ahead— This simple watermelon feta cucumber salad is a wonderful make-ahead side dish for a potluck or picnic. You can make this salad about 1 to 2 days in advance of your summer gathering, so feel free to toss it together and store in the fridge for later.
Variations
Substitute the feta cheese with other firm and crumbly cheeses such as halloumi or goat cheese.
In the place of mint, swap in sweet basil for a bright and fresh flavor.
For a less sweet flavor profile, try substituting the lime juice for balsamic vinegar or add a drizzle of balsamic reduction to the final salad just before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your fresh summer salad with watermelon, feta, and mint as a side dish to a grilled meat or as a light summer dessert! This make-ahead salad recipe tastes great alongside Grilled Pork & Summer Veggie Kabobs or Campfire Herb & Lemon Stuffed Trout. For dessert, try serving your watermelon salad with a generous drizzle of Elderflower Cordial, a sweet syrup sweetened with foraged elderflowers and lemon!
Storage Instructions
Store in the fridge, covered, for up to 4 days.
The salad can be served at room temperature; allow at least 30 minutes to warm up before serving.
final thoughts
I hope that you enjoy making this simple and beautiful summer salad with watermelon and feta cheese. It’s an eye-catching side salad to serve at your next summer gathering, and it’s perfectly sweet, too! I love summer for these easy and quick recipes that feel so good for your body. Packed with juicy watermelon and salty feta cheese, 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.
