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Watermelon and Feta Salad

This refreshing recipe for Watermelon and Feta Salad easily comes together in less than 30 minutes and is the perfect summertime dish. The combination of sweet, juicy, salty and tangy ingredients makes it entirely addictive.

Plate of salad made with watermelon and feta cheese served outdoors.

It may seem unusual to combine sweet watermelon with salty cheese and onions, but in fact, it makes for an incredibly delicious and refreshing sweet and savory dish that's just perfect for hot summer days.

Plate of Watermelon Salad with fresh mint.

How to Make it

This is a simple recipe requiring only a handful of ingredients, no cooking and less than half an hour to prepare. The recipe is adapted from Nigella Lawson's Watermelon, Feta and Black Olive Salad.

Ingredients Overview:

  • Watermelon. You'll need a ripe watermelon for the best flavor.
  • Feta cheese
  • Red onion. If you don't enjoy the taste of raw onions or find them too overpowering you could use black olives instead, their salty and briny taste works really well in this salad.
  • Fresh mint
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Olive oil

Steps Overview:

It's best to prepare this salad shortly before you plan on serving it. To make four servings, you'll need about 4 cups of cubed watermelon and one cup of cubed feta cheese. You'll also need about half a cup of mint leaves.

To mellow out the sharp flavour of the red onion slices, Nigella suggests steeping them in the lime juice as you prepare the salad.

Fresh mint adds freshness to this plate, but if you don't have any on hand you could use fresh basil, though the taste won't be the same.

Make the dressing with the lime juice that was used to steep the red onions and olive oil.

Combine the cubed watermelon, feta cheese, red onions and mint in a bowl. Top with the dressing, toss and serve.

Salad made with cubed watermelon and feta cheese topped with fresh mint leaves and served on white dish.

Possible Variations:

For a vegan watermelon salad, you can leave the feta cheese out or use an alternative vegan cheese that crumbles.

If you like things spicy, a bit of diced jalapeño adds heat to this salad and goes fantastically well with the cool watermelon.

Watermelon and Feta Skewers

You could also use this recipe to make an appetizer in the form of watermelon and feta skewers.

After tossing the salad with the dressing, simply thread a chunk of watermelon followed by a mint or basil leaf and a chunk of cheese and repeat.

The skewers look really pretty but it does take some time to thread them.

Watermelon Feta Salad topped with fresh mint and served on dish.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this salad chilled alongside grilled Chicken Shawarma Kebabs, shrimp, fish, beef, or pork. It's also delicious with these Kafta Kebabs.

Storage Instructions

This salad doesn't keep well so you'll want to make just what you need.

Enjoy!

More Summer Salads to Enjoy

Plate of watermelon and feta cheese salad.

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Author: Adapted from Nigella Lawson
This refreshing Watermelon and Feta Salad easily comes together in less than 30 minutes and is the perfect summertime dish. The combination of sweet, juicy, salty and tangy ingredients makes it entirely addictive.
4.84 from 18 votes
Prep Time 25 mins
Cook Time 0 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 4 people
Calories 229 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ½ small red onion
  • 2 limes
  • 4 cups cubed watermelon
  • 1 cup cubed feta cheese
  • ½ cup mint leaves packed
  • 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • Ground black pepper to your taste

Instructions
 

  • Peel and thinly slice the onion, place in a small bowl.
  • Juice the two limes and pour the juice over the sliced onions. Reserve.
  • Remove the rind and chop the watermelon into even sized cubes (bite size is good).
  • Chop the feta cheese (I like mine in small cubes).
  • Wash the mint and chop coarsely.
  • Assemble the salad by combining the watermelon, feta cheese, mint, olive oil and the lime juice with the onions.
  • Toss the ingredients gently to combine, add ground black pepper to your taste.
  • Serve as soon as possible.

Notes

  1. Fresh mint adds freshness to this salad. You could substitute with fresh basil but the taste will not be the same.
  2. Salad is best served right after making it.
  3. For a vegan watermelon salad, leave the feta cheese out or use an alternative vegan cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 229kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 6gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 423mgPotassium: 279mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1280IUVitamin C: 24.8mgCalcium: 223mgIron: 1.1mg
Keyword Watermelon and Feta Cheese Salad, Watermelon and Feta Salad, Watermelon Feta Mint Salad, Watermelon Salad
Tried this recipe? Have any questions, comments or suggestions? Leave a comment below!Mention @sweetandsavourypursuits or tag #sweetandsavourypursuits!

This post was originally published on July 11, 2015. It has been updated with new content. Recipe remains unchanged.

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Recipe Rating




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Inexpensive Recipes That Satisfy Your Watermelon Cravings - Coupon Connections

Friday 5th of August 2016

[…] PHOTO: sweetandsavourypursuits.com […]

jacquee | i sugar coat it!

Friday 31st of July 2015

I adore watermelon salads, especially with mango and mint. Your photos are mouth-watering! Pinned!

Sweet and Savoury Pursuits

Friday 31st of July 2015

I've never tried watermelon salad with mango, sounds delicious! Thanks for stopping by :)

skd

Tuesday 14th of July 2015

Fresh healthy vibrant colors. The salad looks cool and so very ideal for summers.

Sweet and Savoury Pursuits

Thursday 16th of July 2015

Thank you :)

Tasty Eats Ronit Penso

Sunday 12th of July 2015

One of my favorite combinations. Looks wonderful. :)

Sweet and Savoury Pursuits

Monday 13th of July 2015

Thank you! Have a great day :)

Lili

Sunday 12th of July 2015

Lovely salad! Must try a watermelon salad too... thanks for the inspiration! :)

Sweet and Savoury Pursuits

Monday 13th of July 2015

My pleasure Lili, hope you'll give it a try!

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