Watermelon Salad: The Essence of Summer

Watermelon salad is the quintessential taste of summer. The refreshing combination of sweet watermelon, cool cucumbers, and salty feta with a pop of fresh mint means this watermelon feta salad recipe is easy to make and easy to enjoy with friends and family. Every bite of this watermelon salad is refreshing and packed with sweet and salty flavors.

Watermelon season is my absolute favorite! I love the sweet, cool, refreshing taste of this summertime fruit so much that I add it to sangria in my Watermelon Sangria recipe and I even put it on the grill. When it comes to watermelon, I do not mess around.

Growing up by the shores of the Mediterranean, my summers in Port Said, Egypt consisted of two things: the beach and watermelons. I remember spending long days on the sunny beach with my favorite snack in hand: slices of watermelon topped with crumbles of creamy feta. I spent hours with my father at the local market called the Souq where he would teach me how to pick watermelon so it was sweet and ripe every time. These are skills I still use to this day.

The Perfect Balance of Sweet and Salty

I still love nothing more than the combination of salty feta over sweet, cool watermelon. And this watermelon salad with feta, cucumbers, and fresh herbs is another level of delicious. I think of this watermelon feta salad as a grown-up version of my favorite snack, and the zesty honey-lime dressing sure brings everything together.

This summer salad is the perfect combination of flavors. Like my Strawberry Spinach Salad, it shows how delicious fruit can be in a savory salad. Juicy cubed watermelon pairs beautifully with cool cucumbers, fresh herbs, and, of course, feta cheese. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and salty.

Ingredients and Preparation

Here are the fresh ingredients you need and some notes on how to prepare them:

• Watermelon: Juicy, sweet, and refreshing. Cube it into bite-sized pieces.
• Cucumber: Cool and crunchy. Slice or dice it.
• Feta cheese: Salty and creamy. Crumble or slice it.
• Fresh mint: Aromatic and vibrant. Chop the leaves.

With juicy watermelons and cucumbers, you may think the dressing is unnecessary. While this watermelon and feta salad is delicious without a dressing, a simple and bright dressing like I use here does bring it together and enhances the flavor. You only need 4 ingredients for the honey-lime dressing:

• Olive oil
• Lime juice
• Honey
• Salt

Elevating the Salad

Summer picnic salads like these are easy to make, add color to your table, and are so refreshing to eat on hot summer days. You can make the salad dressing ahead of time and wait to dress the salad just before serving. It should keep in your fridge for up to 3 days.

I keep this salad pretty simple—watermelon, feta, cucumber, and mint—but consider this a watermelon salad foundation! In addition to the ingredients already in the salad, the following extras will take this salad to the next level. Play around! It’s important to have fun with your food:

• Red onion: Thinly sliced for a pop of color and crunch.
• Kalamata olives: For a briny, salty contrast.
• Toasted nuts or seeds: Like pine nuts, sunflower seeds, or chopped almonds.
• Fresh herbs: Try basil, cilantro, or parsley.
• Balsamic glaze: For a sweet-tart drizzle.

The Perfect Summer Companion

Watermelon salad means backyard get-togethers with friends and family! The sun is shining, the grill is going, and pitcher drinks of freshly made Strawberry Lemonade or White Sangria are flowing. Once the sun begins to shine, my Mediterranean heart lightens up and I’m reminded of growing up in Port Said.

When it comes to pairing this quintessential summer salad with main meals, I have you covered! Because watermelon salad is so cool and refreshing, it’s a nice way to balance anything spicy. I like to serve it with Grilled Chicken Legs with Garlic Harissa or keep it simple with Grilled Pork Souvlaki, or Chicken Kebabs.

If summer means fish, seafood, or sandwiches to you, then you’re in luck! This watermelon feta salad goes beautifully with Salmon Burgers, Grilled Swordfish, or even Shawarma.

So, whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, a picnic by the beach, or a casual summer supper, this watermelon feta salad with mint is the perfect refreshing companion. It’s easy to make, bursting with flavor, and sure to be a hit with your guests. Enjoy the taste of summer with every bite!