Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint

Perfect for summer cookouts and gatherings, this summer salad of sweet watermelon, salty feta cheese, and refreshing mint leaves is dressed in a light lemon and olive oil dressing.

This recipe combines the best flavors of my Watermelon Berry Salad and Fresh Summer Corn Salad to make a simple but unique combination of sweet, salty, savory, and bitter ingredients that makes this salad pleasing and surprising with every bite.

This makes it a salad for hot summer days when you need a cool and refreshing side dish.

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Not only is it simple to make, but it also goes great with so many foods and especially with grilled meats and picnic favorites like hot dogs and simple sandwiches.

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• Why This Recipe Works
• Ingredients
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Why This Recipe Works

I grew up in a home that didn't use much salt. So I was surprised to see friends reach for a salt shaker when they had a slice of watermelon on a plate.

It turns out that a little salt makes sweet foods taste even better. So, if you love watermelon, and especially watermelon with salt, this is a perfect salad for you!

Although watermelon is the sweet and juicy star of this salad, this is a recipe that works because the other ingredients complement the melon and each other.

The feta cheese is salty, the red onion is savory, and the kalamata olives are bitter. Each major ingredient adds a different taste so the salad is deliciously different with every bite.

But if you don't have some of the ingredients, it's okay to leave them out since this recipe can be made with or without olives, red onion, mint leaves, or even without the dressing if you like your salad plain.

Since watermelon is the ultimate summer fruit, this salad will pair well with your favorite grilled chicken, steaks, burgers, or seafood.

So, let's cook!

Ingredients

Here's what you need for the Watermelon Salad :

• Watermelon - You will need between 4 to 5 pounds of fresh ripe watermelon. Store-bought cut watermelon makes it easy to purchase the right amount and you can cut it into bite-sized cubes or scoop into balls. Choose a bright red colored watermelon that is fragrant. Purchasing a whole watermelon can be more economical. Select whole watermelons that are free of dark brown or soft spots and feel heavy for their size.
• Kalamata Olives - These dark brown olives are both salty and bitter. They refresh the palate from the sweetness of the watermelon.
• Red Onion - Red onions are both sweet and savory and a great choice for salads. You will need about ½ of a medium-sized onion.
• Fresh Mint Leaves - Mint is a wonderful flavor to pair with watermelon. I like to tear the leaves, but you can give them a rough chop too.
• Feta Cheese - Feta cheese is salty and the one thing that goes great with watermelon is salt! You can purchase already crumbled feta cheese or buy a block and crumble it yourself.

Here's what you need for the Lemon Dressing:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil - You can use a light olive oil or a full-flavored one for the dressing. Light olive oil will let the lemon be the star of the dressing, while a full-flavored oil will add more complexity to the flavor of the dressing. Both are delicious.
• Lemon - You will need both lemon juice and zest from about 1 ½ lemons. It is easiest to zest the lemons first then juice them. The lemon juice is for the dressing and the zest is a garnish for the salad.
• Honey - Honey is a dual-use ingredient. Use honey for a touch of sweetness in the dressing to balance the acidity of the lemon, plus it acts as a gentle emulsifier for the dressing.
• Salt - You can just use regular table salt for the salad dressing. I use a very small amount and you can increase it to suit your taste.
• Ground Pepper - Freshly ground black pepper is always best. It has a flowery aroma and a little goes a long way.

Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.

How to Make This Watermelon Salad

Layer and Combine. In a large bowl layer and combine the watermelon, red onion, Kalamata olives, and mint.

Mix the Dressing. To a small jar with a lid add the oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper. Seal the jar and shake vigorously.

Top and Garnish. Top with the feta cheese and lemon zest and garnish with some additional mint leaves.

Dress and Serve. Pour the dressing over the watermelon salad. Serve and enjoy!

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