Name: Watermelon and Feta Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 6 cups cubed watermelon; 2 ounces feta cheese ((crumbled)); 1 medium jalapeño ((sliced thin)); 1/4 medium red onion ((sliced thin)); 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint; 1 medium lime ((juiced)); 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; fine sea salt ((as needed))

On the hottest summer days, this light salad offers simple, nourishing refreshment. It's a favorite for weekend BBQs and late-summer potlucks.

Watermelon and feta salad in a pink bowl garnished with jalapenos, lime and herbs

Table of Contents

Recipe at a Glance
Ingredients + Substitutes
Variations
Watermelon and Feta Salad
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It's a gift that, during the hottest days of summer, melons are at their peak. Their refreshing qualities soften the blow of summer's heat while also supporting hydration.

While we love to eat huge slices of watermelon as desserts, there's something else I like too: watermelon salad. It's a savory-sweet combo of watermelon, salty feta cheese, chilies, fresh lime, and herbs.

Recipe at a Glance

It takes less than 10 minutes to put the salad together.

Watermelon is loaded with key fat-soluble nutrients (like lycopene and beta-carotene). A little olive oil goes a long way in helping you absorb them.

It tastes delicious. Salty feta brings balance to sweet watermelon while lime lends acidity and jalapeño brings a little heat.

Ingredients + Substitutes

The ingredients for this watermelon and feta salad are straightforward. And preparing it takes almost no effort. Because of its simplicity, you can tinker with the recipe - adding a little more of one ingredient and pulling back on others as it suits you.

Watermelon is the foundation. Seedless varieties work best and will save you labor, but any watermelon is fine.
Feta brings a salty, acidic edge that helps balance the watermelon's sweetness. It also lends a little protein. Cotija cheese is a good alternative, if you don't have feta.
Jalapeño lends a touch of heat. If you like spicy food, drop the jalapeño and swap in sliced habañeros. Or skip it altogether.
Red onion adds a savory element, complementing the feta and jalapeño and balancing the melon's sweetness. White onion or green onion will also work.
Fresh herbs add a vibrant, fresh touch. Cilantro and mint are our favorite, bringing a delicate herbaceous element to the salad.
Lime juice and olive oil dress the salad, pulling all the flavors together.

Variations

Add cucumber to the salad. It's in the same botanical family as watermelon and has a cooling flavor and pop of crunch to the salad.

Cherry tomatoes can be an excellent addition - especially Sungold tomatoes which have an umami-rich sweetness.

Toasted pine nuts are delicious, too. They add a pleasant crunch and creaminess.

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6 servings

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Sharp, briny feta partners beautifully with sweet watermelon in this easy summer salad. A little jalapeno adds a pop of heat, while lime and olive oil bring it all together. The salad is best eaten right away, but you can store any leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 day.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

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Ingredients

6 cups cubed watermelon
2 ounces feta cheese (crumbled)
1 medium jalapeño (sliced thin)
¼ medium red onion (sliced thin)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 medium lime (juiced)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
fine sea salt (as needed)

Equipment

Large Mixing Bowl

Instructions

Combine the cubed watermelon, crumbled feta, jalapeño, red onion, cilantro, and mint in a large mixing bowl. Toss gently to combine.
Drizzle the salad with lime juice and olive oil. Adjust seasoning with salt and serve.

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