This watermelon feta salad pairs juicy watermelon with salty feta, onion and basil for a refreshing summer dish. Eat on its own or pair with protein for a delicious meal-sized salad.
Watermelon + Salt = Perfection
This salad reminds me of my childhood when I used to eat watermelon with salt sprinkled on top all summer long. Have you ever tried it? I’ve heard it’s a southern thing but if you haven’t tried it, you need to! The salty, sweet combo is so delicious. Salt on pretty much any melon is tasty so if by some chance you’re not a watermelon fan… you’ve got choices. 😉
This salad goes a step further — I’m using feta for the salty component, adding a little red onion, fresh basil and a balsamic reduction to sweeten things up just a tad. All the flavors work really well together.
Sometimes the best recipes are the most simple ones. While this recipe doesn’t have a lot of frills and crazy ingredients, I think that’s what makes it so good!
Whether you’re new to the kitchen or a pro, I feel confident saying you can impress with this salad. Watermelon is extremely hydrating and refreshing so it’s perfect for a picnic or summer potluck and is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
When I’m building balanced meals and snacks, I always try to incorporate a healthy fat, protein and fibrous veggies. I would categorize this salad recipe as more of a side because it doesn’t have all three of those components, but there are easy upgrades you can make to enjoy this as a meal-sized salad!
Simply serve it over a bed of greens (fibrous veggies: check!), with grilled shrimp (protein: check!) and sliced avocado (healthy fat: check!). Easiest meal sized salad ever? Possibly. And it’s SO darn tasty.
I can already see myself relying on this salad through the hot months of summer.
If you try this watermelon feta salad I’d love for you to leave a comment and star rating. Your feedback is so helpful for the EBF team and other EBF readers!
This watermelon feta salad pairs juicy watermelon with salty feta, onion and basil for a refreshing summer dish.
Ingredients
1 pound cubed watermelon
1/2 cup crumbled feta
1/2 cup onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (or mint)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
black pepper, to taste
Balsamic Reduction
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 Tablespoon coconut sugar
Instructions
To make the balsamic reduction, add balsamic vinegar and coconut sugar to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a slight boil and reduce by half, about 6-8 minutes; set aside and let cool.
In a large salad bowl gently toss watermelon, onion, feta, basil, olive oil and vinegar. Taste and season with pepper. Drizzle balsamic reduction over salad just before serving.
Serve immediately with a slotted spoon because the salad becomes juicy as it sits.
Notes
If you don’t have time to prep the balsamic reduction, Trader Joe’s sells a bottled balsamic glaze or you can simply skip it. The salad will still taste delicious without the reduction. Cutting the balsamic reduction will also reduce the sugar content of the dish!
I make a salad very similar to this. I follow pretty close to the recipe above, only I use red onion, and add sliced strawberries. For the dressing, I get a sweet onion salad dressing and add minced garlic to it. Save the feta for just before serving. Have used basil, mint, and cilantro – each is tasty.
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I’m so intrigued to try this! My mother-in-law was just telling me how she loves watermelon and salt…I like the idea of using feta!
I make a salad very similar to this. I follow pretty close to the recipe above, only I use red onion, and add sliced strawberries. For the dressing, I get a sweet onion salad dressing and add minced garlic to it. Save the feta for just before serving. Have used basil, mint, and cilantro – each is tasty.