Description
Watermelon salad blends crisp Mediterranean flavors with summer’s sweetest fruit. Feta cheese, mint, and olive oil create a perfect balance that delights palates and cools summer days.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit:
- 1 small seedless watermelon, cubed (about 6 cups)
- 1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
Cheese and Herbs:
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
Seasonings and Dressing:
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Optional Garnish:
- Lime zest
- Additional mint leaves
- Additional basil leaves
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious mixing vessel and gently tumble ruby-red watermelon cubes into the container.
- Scatter crumbled feta cheese across the watermelon, creating a creamy contrast to the sweet fruit.
- Add crisp cucumber pieces and delicate slivers of red onion to introduce textural complexity.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped mint and basil leaves, releasing their aromatic essence throughout the salad.
- Create a vibrant dressing by whisking lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, and golden honey until smoothly integrated.
- Drizzle the zesty dressing over the salad, using a light touch to ensure every ingredient receives a delicate coating.
- Season with a gentle pinch of salt and a whisper of freshly ground black pepper to enhance the natural flavors.
- Elevate the presentation by garnishing with delicate lime zest and additional herb leaves for a burst of color and freshness.
- Refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify before serving chilled.
Notes
- Chill the watermelon before cubing to enhance its crisp, refreshing texture and make cutting easier.
- Use a sharp knife to create clean, uniform watermelon cubes that maintain the salad’s elegant presentation.
- Opt for fresh, high-quality feta cheese to elevate the salad’s overall flavor profile and creamy texture.
- For a vegan alternative, replace feta with cubed firm tofu or plant-based cheese crumbles, maintaining the dish’s fresh Mediterranean-inspired essence.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg