Sweet, savory, and completely addictive, watermelon salad with feta is going to be your new picnic go-to bestie.
There’s a reason why watermelon feta salad is a classic. It’s refreshing, delicious, and perfect for hot summer days. The combination of sweet cubes of watermelon, salty feta, and tangy lime dressing is perfection. This salad comes together in a flash and it’s one of my favorite things to bring to potlucks and picnics because it’s always a welcome addition.
If you haven’t had a savory watermelon salad before, you’re in for a treat. The crisp juiciness of watermelon is the perfect foil/compliment to the creamy tanginess of feta.
What is watermelon feta salad?
Watermelon feta salad a simple combination of cubed watermelon, cubed cucumbers, red onions, and herbs tossed in a lime vinaigrette. Fruit and cheese is a classic pairing and it’s no surprised that sweet watermelon and salty feta are an match made in heaven. The intensely sweet watery crunch of ripe watermelon holds up perfectly to the creamy dense saltiness of feta. Watermelon is originally from Egypt and there, and in many Mediterranean countries, it’s enjoyed with feta as a counterpoint. They don’t quite make a salad though: it’s typically watermelon and cheese together on a plate eaten in consecutive bites, alternating between the two.
Tiktok watermelon feta salad
Watermelon feta salad is trending on Tiktok thanks to @cassyeungmoney. Her watermelon feta salad video has gone viral and every uo he is making it. I’m not surprised because it is absolutely a summer classic.
Why watermelon and feta
Super refreshing and perfect for hot weather. Pairing sweet juicy fruit with salty cheese is a classic flavor combination: the contrast in flavors between the two play together to make the watermelon taste even more abundantly sweet and the feta even more savory and salty.
How to make watermelon salad
- Cut the watermelon into cubes.
- Slice up some red onion.
- Cube up a cucumber.
- Thinly slice fresh mint and basil.
- Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and the zest and juice of 1 lime.
- Toss all the ingredients with the dressing and finish by crumbling in the feta.
- Taste, season with salt and pepper and enjoy the flavors of summer!
Watermelon salad ingredients
- watermelon – sweet, juicy red cubes of watermelon are the star of this summer salad.
- cucumber – crunchy, hearty, and super similar to watermelon in structure, cubes of cucumber add heft and neutral bite to this salad.
- red onion – thinly sliced red onion adds a big of a spicy bite. If you’re not a fan of raw onions, simply soak the slices in ice cold water for 5-10 minutes and drain well. This takes the bite and pungency out and leaves behind just the right amount of onion flavor.
- feta cheese – the salty creaminess of a really good feta is amazing with the sweetness of watermelon. More on feta below.
- mint and basil – fresh mint and basil give this salad a herby, earthy punch.
- lime dressing – make a quick lime vinaigrette by whisking together extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar with the juice and zest of one lime. You can taste it and season the dressing with salt and pepper, or you can dress the watermelon, taste, then season. I prefer to dress the salad and season because that gives you a better idea of the dish flavors as a whole.
How to choose a watermelon
Choose a uniform shape, heavy, dark green watermelon with a sunspot – that is a yellow blob on one side. The sunspot lets you know that the watermelon ripened on the vine with enough time to sweeten in the sun. Also take a look at the part of the watermelon where the vine grew out. It should be tiny, because it means that the vine had time to shrivel, meaning it had more time to ripen. Lastly, give it a good thump, it should sound hollow and heavy.
What kind of feta cheese for salad
There are a million kinds of feta out there. Typically Greek feta is a classic choice because it’s briny, tangy, and sharp with a good crumbling texture. That being said, you don’t need to go with Greek feta. If you liking a milder feta, go with a cow milk feta. In general, from sharpest to mildest, it goes: sheep’s milk, goat’s milk, cow’s milk. Choose a block of feta in brine that you like the flavor of. Just make sure you cut or crumble it on your own so it’s dense and creamy instead of dried out the way pre-crumbled feta is.
What if i don’t like feta?
There are so many kinds of feta out there that I’m sure there’s one for you! That being said, if you are absolutely not a fan, you can go for another salty, brined, white cheese like Cyprus halloumi, Italian ricotta salata (aged ricotta), or Mexican cotija. Generally, a harder brined cheese works better in this salad.
Fourth of July watermelon salad
This salad is PERFECT for the Fourth when you add blueberries. You have red watermelon, white feta, and blue blueberries that all come together in a pretty, patriotic dish. Pro tip: skip the herbs and red onion and cut the watermelon into stars for some extra USA vibes. Raspberries and blackberries are a beautiful addition too. For this particular salad, I like to cut the feta into cubes instead of crumbling them so all the colors really pop. Or, if you want a really special salad, you can go for a watermelon burrata blueberry salad.
Make ahead watermelon salad
This is the perfect salad to bring to a potluck, picnic, BBQ or cookout. You can prep everything in advance and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to go.
- Cube the watermelon, cut the red onion, and cucumber. Combine these ingredients in a large container; it can even be the one you’re bringing the salad in.
- Make the dressing and keep it in a small container on the side.
- Crumble the feta and keep it separately in an air tight container.
- Wash and dry the mint and basil and keep the clean leaves loosely wrapped in a paper towel in a sealable bag in the fridge.
- When it’s time to serve, quickly slice the herbs. Shake up the dressing in the container, then pour it on to the watermelon, cucumber, red onion mix. Add the crumbled feta and the herbs. Mix everything together, give it a good toss, and season with salt and pepper. Boom, watermelon salad done.
Happy watermelon salad making. I’m so happy watermelon season is here!
xoxo steph
Watermelon Salad with Feta
Ingredients
- 1/2 large watermelon cubed, about 6 cups
- 1/4 red onion thinly sliced, about 2/3 cup
- 1 1/2 cup cucumber cubed
- 1/4 cup fresh mint thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil thinly sliced
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup vinegar red wine vinegar preferred
- 1 lime juice and zest only
- salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Place the watermelon, cut-side down on a large cutting board and carefully trim off the rind. Cut the watermelon into equal 1 inch slices then turn the slices on their sides. Cut the watermelon slices vertically into 1 inch sticks, then cut the 1 inch sticks horizontally into 1 inch cubes. Transfer the watermelon to a large bowl.
- Cube the cucumbers and thinly slice the red onions. Stack the mint leaves on top of each other and roll them up tightly. Use a sharp knife to thinly slice the mint rolls into a mint chiffonade. Repeat with the basil.
- Add the red onions, cucumbers, mint, basil, and feta to the bowl with the watermelon.
- In a liquid measuring cup or a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, and the zest and juice of a lime.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. Toss well and enjoy!
great salad idea, have had watermelon and feta as a appetizer but not as a salad, and love the flavor together, so thank you!