Watermelon Salad
Updated
Updated
In this easy Watermelon Salad Recipe, I’ve combined fresh fruit, crisp cucumber, salty feta cheese, and fragrant basil, and tossed it all in an easy and delicious lime dressing. It’s a beautiful, healthy summer salad for any BBQ that will be the first to disappear!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItThis post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
Watermelon Salad Recipe
I think watermelon and cucumbers are one of the most refreshing summer combinations ever. So delish! Toss in some feta cheese and basil, and coat it all in a simple lime vinaigrette, and you’ve got an incredible Watermelon Salad that everyone will fight over.
Tips for Beginners
Since watermelon is the star of the show here, we want to use the absolute best one, right? Here are some tips:
- Check out the shape: typically, a rounder watermelon will be sweeter than an oblong shaped one.
- Pick it up and feel it: no matter if it’s small or large, the watermelon should feel heavy for its size.
- Look for the biggest yellow spot: watermelons develop a splotch where they lie on the ground. When this splotch is yellow, it’s ripe. The bigger the splotch, the sweeter the melon will be.
- Tap the underbelly: give the watermelon’s lower surface a thump. You’re listening for a deep hollow sound, which indicates it’s ripe and full of wonderful juice. If it sounds dull, it’s either over-ripe or not ripe enough.
Watermelon Salad
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1-2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ tsp coarse salt
- 5 cups cubed, seedless watermelon
- 1 English (Hot House) cucumber, cubed (about 2 cups of cubed cucumber)
- 15 small fresh basil leaves, torn or chopped
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese, or more to your liking
Instructions
- In a small bowl, make the dressing by whisking together the honey, lime juice, olive oil, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl or serving platter, combine the watermelon, cucumber, and basil.
- Drizzle the watermelon salad with the honey vinaigrette and gently toss to combine.
- Top with the feta cheese.
- Serve right away and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- English (hot house) cucumbers are best for this salad because they contain fewer seeds, do not have the wax coating, and tend to be sweeter and more easily digestible than standard cucumbers.
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How to Make Watermelon Salad Step by Step
Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1-2 tbsp olive oil, and ¼ tsp salt. Set aside.
Combine watermelon: In a large bowl or serving platter, combine 5 cups watermelon, 1 cucumber, and 15 basil leaves.
Drizzle with dressing: Drizzle the watermelon salad with the honey vinaigrette and gently toss to combine.
Add feta: Top with ½ cup feta cheese.
Serve: Serve right away and enjoy!
Watermelon Salad Recipe Variations
- For added heat, mix in a small diced jalapeño.
- Toss in sliced red onion for additional flavor and texture.
- Swap out the salty feta for creamy goat cheese.
- Stir in diced avocado for a tasty addition.
- Use mint instead of basil.
- If watermelon isn’t your thing, you could use strawberries instead.
How to Store
This salad is best served right away before the watermelon breaks down and the feta gets soggy. If you absolutely must make it the day before, wait until serving time to toss in the feta and basil.
If you have any leftovers, they will still be delicious, but don’t keep them around for more than 2 days. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
What to Serve with Watermelon Feta Salad
This salad is one of my favorites to serve in the summer as a light lunch or snack, or to bring to potlucks. Everyone loves it, and it goes so well with whatever you’ve got on the grill, whether it be grilled chicken, a batch of turkey burgers, or marinated grilled flank steak.
And if you have extra watermelon, put it to good use and make fruit kabobs, a watermelon slushie, or Frozen Watermelon Pupsicles (homemade dog treats) – so cute!
Very happy with this salad. I added strawberries and vinegar to the dressing. The salad was refreshing , an excellent blending of flavors! Quick and easy to make!!