Watermelon Salad with Feta

One of our favorite ways to stay cool all summer is our Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint

Summer weather calls for refreshing, light salads that highlight the season’s bountiful produce, and this one has it in abundance!

This colorful 15-minute salad combines the sweetness of juicy, ripe watermelon with the tanginess of feta cheese and the freshness of mint leaves, creating a perfect balance of flavors and textures. It’s lightly dressed in a refreshing lime mint vinaigrette.

Whether you’re looking for a simple side dish to accompany some of your grilled favorites or a standalone salad that steals the show, this watermelon salad with feta, mint, and tangy lime dressing is sure to be a hit at any summer gathering.

Ingredients Needed:

The beauty of this salad lies in its simplicity.

• Watermelon – choose a ripe one for the best flavor. You’ll need about 6 cups of cubed melon for this salad. Buy seedless if you can, because it makes life easier!
• Feta Cheese – we love feta for its tangy flavor, and we think the best is Greek sheep’s milk feta. Buy a block and gently crumble it for the best texture.
• Fresh Mint – chop it up and sprinkle it over the salad, and we’ll also use it in the lime vinaigrette dressing for an added boost of flavor.
• Roasted Salted Pistachios – great for a nice salty crunch in every bite! We like the salted and roasted variety.
• Lime Vinaigrette – see below ⬇️

• Lime Vinaigrette – a simple dressing with olive oil, fresh lime juice, honey or sugar, and chopped mint

Easy steps for Watermelon Salad:

This recipe is so easy that it’s almost not a recipe at all – it’s more of a guideline!

Make the Lime Vinaigrette

• Juice 3 fresh limes into a bowl to equal 5 Tablespoons. Reserve 1 Tablespoon and set aside for later for the salad
• Chop 3 Tablespoons of mint, reserving 2 teaspoons for the dressing
• Whisk in 1 Tablespoon of sugar, honey, or agave and whisk until sugar is dissolved
• Slowly whisk in 3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and mix until emulsified
• Stir in 2 teaspoons of chopped mint
• Set the vinaigrette aside while you make the salad

Prepare the Salad

• Remove the rind of the watermelon and cut it into bite-sized cubes until you have about 6 cups.
• Chef’s Note: Don’t worry if the pieces are even or square. The shape of watermelon can make this hard, and why waste watermelon?! Besides, this is an easy summer salad!
• Place the cubes on a large platter or in a large shallow bowl.
• Crumble the feta. We prefer to buy feta in a block and crumble it ourselves because it adds texture to the salad if all of the pieces are different. And, feta is simple to crumble.
• Roughly chop the roasted pistachios. Again, different-sized pieces are great!
• Drizzle 1/4 cup of the lime vinaigrette on the watermelon and gently toss to coat.
• Scatter the feta and pistachios over the top of the watermelon, and then drizzle the remaining lime dressing and the remaining 1 Tablespoon of fresh lime juice.
• Sprinkle the remaining chopped mint (2 Tablespoons) all over the salad and serve.

Tips for success for Watermelon Mint Salad

This salad is popular and simple to make, but here are some tips and tricks for success:

• Choose The Best Watermelon – it’s the star of the show! Look for melons that feel relatively heavy for their size. Also, smaller watermelons tend to have a more concentrated flavor. Chill the melon for a few hours before cutting for a nice crisp flavor.
• Quality Feta – this makes all the difference! Try to find a good sheep’s Greek feta that is sold in a block and stored in a salty brine. It will have a lovely creamy texture and a light saltiness that balances perfectly with sweet watermelon.
• Fresh Mint – don’t chop it too far in advance because it will begin to brown.
• Mix Gently – combine the watermelon with the vinaigrette first, and then scatter the rest of the ingredients on top. The feta will break down with tossing, so best to sprinkle it on.

Make Ahead and Leftover Tips

• This is a salad that needs to be tossed right before serving because watermelon is naturally watery. If you need to prep ahead, just keep all of the components stored separately and combine right before serving.
• Store any leftover salad in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You may need to drain the watermelon juice before serving.

Favorite Main Dishes to serve with Watermelon Salad

• Jerk Chicken – its spiciness is the perfect contrast
• Ribs – a summer pairing that can’t be beat! Try our Smoked Ribs, Slow Cooker Ribs, or fall-off-the-bone Oven Baked Ribs
• Cedar Plank Salmon – the light smoky flavor pairs well with watermelon
• Garlic Butter Steak Bites – an easy main dish for warm summer nights with no oven required!