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    Home » Recipes

    Easy Watermelon Basil Salad with Feta Cheese

    Published: Aug 18, 2023 by Sally Cameron · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    166 shares
    A white bowl of red watermelon salad with green cucumber and basil and feta cheese.
    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    Refreshing watermelon basil salad with feta cheese is the perfect summer salad. With the sweetness of the watermelon, tangy salty feta cheese, crisp cucumber, and fragrant basil the flavor combination is summer magic. Make it in minutes and serve chilled on a hot day tossed with a honey-lime vinaigrette at serving. This is the recipe that turned me from a watermelon liker to a watermelon lover. Give it a try.

    Colorful watermelon salad with feta, shallots, basil, and cucumber.

    With extra cut watermelon in the fridge, plus cucumber and basil in my garden, and cheese in the fridge, this watermelon salad recipe came together in minutes. If the combo sounds strange, it really works with sweet, tart, salty, tangy flavors. It's got it all. I think you'll enjoy this version of a watermelon feta basil salad recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Like This Recipe
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Recipe Instructions
    • Recipe Tips
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Refreshing Summer Recipes
    • ⭐️Did you Make This Recipe?
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why You'll Like This Recipe

    • A perfect summer side dish.
    • The best part, no cooking!
    • Uses peak summer seasonal produce.
    • Super easy recipe, made in minutes.

    For another easy, refreshing summer salad with simple ingredients, make this cucumber and mint salad.

    Recipe Ingredients

    Ingredients for a refreshing watermelon salad.
    • Watermelon: Get a mini ripe watermelon or store-cut watermelon. Seedless watermelon works best. If you get a bigger watermelon and have extra, make this Mexican watermelon juice. Delicious!
    • Cucumber: I prefer the small Persian cucumbers for their crisp texture and sweet taste but an English cucumber works too.
    • Aromatics: Either shallot or crisp red onion, and add some green onion if you like.
    • Cheese: Use either Greek feta cheese or goat cheese, crumbles or cubes.
    • Fresh Herbs: Fresh basil is my choice for this salad, for flavor and the beautiful green ribbons, but mint is terrific as is cilantro.
    • Lime juice: Gives the tart lime vinaigrette a little sweetness for balance.
    • Oil: Choose extra virgin olive oil, or for fun, use a lime olive oil or basil olive oil.
    • Honey: Just a little sweet to balance the tart lime juice, or try this no-sugar honey.

    For measurements please see the recipe card. For help on how to cut watermelon, read this post and see the step-by-step photos. You'll also find information on how to choose a good watermelon.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Add diced avocado for it's buttery flavor and texture.
    • For a different vinaigrette dressing, use balsamic vinegar instead of the lime juice, or lemon juice.
    • Drizzle with a balsamic reduction (aka balsamic glaze) and just squeeze on some lime.
    • Another terrific addition is brined black kalamata olives, either whole or sliced.
    • Add raw pine nuts for more crunch and a buttery tase.

    To make a homemade balsamic glaze, see this recipe for balsamic reduction.

    Recipe Instructions

    If you have a container of pre-cut watermelon pieces, spread them out on a cutting board and cut the pieces into smaller pieces if the chunks are large. Something bite-sized is better. If you have a whole watermelon, start here.

    Whisking golden colored vinaigrette in a glass measuring cup.
    Step 1: Whisk vinaigrette together in a small bowl; taste and adjustment with more salt or honey.
    Cutting watermelon slices into cubes.
    Step 2: Cut watermelon into bite-sized cubes with a sharp knife.
    Cucumbers on a black cutting board cut in different ways.
    Step 3: Chop cucumber into desired shape and size.
    How to cut feta cheese into cubes for salad.
    Step 4: Cut feta into small cubes.
    Bright green basil leaves on a black cutting board.
    Step 5: Roll basil leaves into a cylinder and slice crosswise into ribbons.
    Red watermelon cubes in a glass bowl.
    Step 6: Add watermelon cubes to a bowl.
    Watermelon salad ready to serve with cucumber, feta, basil, shallots.
    Step 7: Add melon, cucumber, and shallot to a bowl. Scatter the feta cheese over the top and mix gently. Add basil leaves and serving dressing on the side.

    Recipe Tips

    Here are a few tips for making this watermelon basil salad.

    • If making ahead to save time, do your prep work and keep the ingredients separated, covered, and refrigerated. Assemble when ready to serve. For example, prep in the morning and toss to serve for dinner.
    • When prepping ahead, drain the watermelon before combining if needed. It might get juicy as it stands.
    • Serve dressing on the side, so any extra un-dressed salad is still good a day or two longer.

    Serving Suggestions

    Watermelon basil salad is a great summer side dish for just about anything such as grilled meats and grilled chicken, rotisserie chicken, burgers and summer bbq, and grilled vegetables. Fresh basil leaves or fresh mint leaves make lovely garnish.

    Try the salad without the dressing and add if you wish. It's so good by itself, we don't usually use the dressing.

    Chef's Tip on red onions: If you're using red onions in the recipe, a good trick to tame their pungency is to thinly slice them them soak them in cold water for 10-15 minutes, then drain, dry and use in your salad. Works great. If you have a strong shallot, do the same.

    Recipe FAQs

    What cheese goes well with watermelon?

    A mild, salty Greek feta is a classic paring with sweet watermelon. The sweet and salty flavors really compliment each other. A mild goat cheese works equally as well. Add the cheese either cubed or crumbled to chunks of watermelon, add herbs, lime juice, maybe a little onion and you have a delightful watermelon salad.

    How do you cut a watermelon salad?

    For the freshest watermelon salad, start with a whole watermelon. Mini watermelons are easier to handle. Start by cutting a small piece off of one end, then stand the watermelon flat on the end for stability. Slice in half top to bottom with a big chef's knife or watermelon knife. From there, cut slices, trim off the rind, and cut a grid pattern in bite-sized pieces.

    Can you eat watermelon and cheese?

    Absolutely! Watermelon and cheese are a terrific combination because of the sweet and salty flavors, plus crisp and creamy textures (depending on the cheese). Feta cheese is popular and goat cheese can be used as well. Use this combination to make a watermelon feta salad, or serve cheese alongside slices of watermelon on a platter, scattered with fresh chopped herbs such a basil or mint.

    More Refreshing Summer Recipes

    Beat the heat and still love what you eat!

    • Closeup of grilled corn on the cob with herb butter.
      Corn on the Cob on the Grill with Garlic Herb Butter
    • Bowl of bright tropical colored pineapple mango salsa.
      Fresh Pineapple Mango Salsa Recipe
    • watermelon goat cheese appetizers
      Summer Watermelon Goat Cheese Appetizer
    • Fruit kabobs with watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melons.
      Fruit Kabobs Made with Melon

    ⭐️Did you Make This Recipe?

    If you make this recipe, please add your comment. I appreciate your feedback and enjoy hearing from you. If you loved it, please give it a 5-star rating! They really help other readers.

    📖 Recipe

    Watermelon salad ready to serve with cucumber, feta, basil, shallots.

    Easy Watermelon Basil Salad with Feta Cheese

    Sally Cameron
    A refreshing summer salad with the sweetness of watermelon, tangy salty feta cheese, crisp cucumber, and fragrant basil. The flavor combination is summer magic, and easy to make.
    5 from 2 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 to 6
    Calories 361 kcal

    Equipment

    • Cutting board
    • Chef's knife

    Ingredients
      

    Vinaigrette

    • ¼ cup extra virign olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
    • 1 teaspoon mild honey or no-sugar honey optional
    • ⅛ teaspoon sea salt

    Watermelon salad

    • 4-5 cups watermelon cubes half a mini watermelon
    • 2-3 small Persian cucumbers or half an English cucumber
    • 4 ounces feta or goat cheese cut into cubes or crumbled
    • 1 large shallot thinly sliced crosswise into rings or ¼ of a red onion, sliced thin
    • 5-6 large fresh basil leaves

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    Instructions
     

    Make vinaigrette (makes extra)

    • Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl or glass measuring cup until smooth. You can also add ingredients to a jar, cap tightly, and shake well. Taste the vinaigrette and adjust seasoning with more salt or honey.

    Watermelon salad

    • Cube watermelon into bite-sized pieces, about ¾". Depending on the type and size of cucumbers, if using small Persian cucumber, slice in half lengthwise then cut crosswise into half circles. If they are really small, just cut crosswise into small circles.
      For an English or larger cucumber, quarter the cucumber lengthwise, trim out seedy center, then chop into large or small pieces.
      Roll basil leaves together into a cylinder then chop thinly crosswise into ribbons.
      For the cheese, either cube or crumble the feta, or crumble the goat cheese. Serve vinaigrette on the side, or if preferred, toss with 2 tablespoons to start, then serve rest on the side.

    Notes

    Fun substitutions and variations:
    • Swap fresh herbs, mint is terrific, or try cilantro, or blend them.
    • For a different vinaigrette dressing, use balsamic vinegar instead of the lime juice.
    • Drizzle with a balsamic reduction (aka balsamic glaze) and just squeeze on some lime.
    • Another terrific addition is brined black kalamata olives, either whole or sliced.
    • Add raw pine nuts for more crunch and a buttery tase.
    • For a no-sugar option on honey, try this no-sugar honey, it's terrific.
    •  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 361kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 10gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 333mgPotassium: 672mgFiber: 2gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 3246IUVitamin C: 49mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 2mg
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    « Easy Blender Lemon Chicken Marinade
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    166 shares

    Comments

    1. Porsche guy says

      August 19, 2023 at 4:47 pm

      5 stars
      This is so easy and refreshing! Love the flavor combinations. Tasted great on a hot summer day and i took it to a bbq party. Thanks.

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Chef Sally Cameron of aFoodcentricLife.com in her kitchen.

    Welcome! I'm Sally, a professionally trained chef, former personal chef and caterer, lover of fresh healthy food, and sharing it with others.

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