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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Menu / Salads / Watermelon & Feta Salad

    Watermelon & Feta Salad

    Aug 30, 2021 · 28 Comments

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    Sweet juicy watermelon and briny salty feta are a match made in heaven! This classic Mediterranean pair make a refreshingly easy summer salad that comes together in under 20 minutes!
    A refreshing crunchy, sweet, juicy, salty, briny, and tangy summer salad!

    Watermelon & Feta Salad with basil, sumac and za'atar. Overhead shot on a pink plate and a grey background.

    Why this Recipe Works

    • Quick & easy! Whip up this salad and simple honey lime dressing in under 20 minutes!
    • Watermelon & feta are a classic Mediterranean pairing! Salty, creamy and dense feta perfectly complements the sweet, crunchy and juicy watermelon!
    • The lime zest! Enhances the aromatic flavors in the watermelon.

    What summer cooking is all about: very few seasonal ingredients combined to create a dish that’s much greater than the sum of its parts! Light, full of flavor, minimal prep, and celebrating all the varieties of the melon rainbow!

    How to make this Watermelon & Feta Salad

    • Cube watermelon. Cube or crumble feta. Whisk vinaigrette. Combine. Top with fresh herbs and spices. DONE!
    Watermelon & feta rainbow salad with red, pink, orange, yellow, green and white melon cubes lined up with cubes of feta.
    cut melon + prep feta and combine
    Watermelon & feta rainbow salad with melon cubes in red, pink, orange, yellow, green and white with cubes of feta, purple basil, flaky salt and fresh ground pepper.
    add fresh herbs, spices & vinaigrette
    Watermelon & feta rainbow salad with melon cubes in red, pink, orange, yellow, green and white with cubes of feta, purple basil, flaky salt and fresh ground pepper.
    DONE!

    It’s the salad that celebrates all the colors of the melon rainbow and an equal melon opportunity recipe!

    All the colors of the melon rainbow are invited to our feta salad!
    • Red, orange, green and white lemon balls with basil and a honey-lime vinaigrette
      melon balls without feta
    • Watermelon and feta salad with red, orange, green and white melon balls, basil, sumac and za'atar.
      there's red, pink orange, green and white!

    Watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydews and more are at their peak ripeness and bursting with summery flavors!

    Summer is all about highlighting seasonally fresh and local produce.

    This salad is ONLY gonna be as good as your watermelon & feta!

    Their quality is of supreme importance and what really make this summer salad shine!

    *All people were created equal. All watermelon and feta were not*

    Slices of pink watermelon arranged artistically; overhead shot on a white background.

    Although the feta and melon combo doesn’t need anything else, this recipe is inspired by the sweet-savory watermelon and feta served on the beaches of Tel Aviv. A summer staple in Israel that’s often topped with herbal spearmint and toasty za’atar.

    Notes on Ingredients

    Watermelon: The super sweet n’juicy kind! Best bet is to hit up your local farmers market and look for dense, richly colored and deeply aromatic melons in the summer. They’ll be in a whole different league than the bland ones often found at the supermarket.

    All colors of the melon rainbow and varieties are invited to our feta salad! i

    Universal tips for selecting watermelons:  

    • Look for watermelons that feel relatively heavy for their size
    • Avoid watermelons that sound hollow or feel light – they’ll have a more watered down flavor

    Cooks Tip: Save your watermelon rinds and pickle them!

    Feta: Look for true Greek or Bulgarian sheep's-milk feta at the market, which tends to be creamier and tangier than domestic cow's-milk versions.

    • Haloumi can be used as well.
    • If you’re vegan, simply omit or swap for a salty vegan cheese counterpart.

    Cooks Tip: Buy your feta in blocks! They’re much more flavorful and will consistently be a higher quality than the pre-crumbled stuff. And it really doesn’t take long to crumble!

    Fresh Herbs: such as herbal spearmint and/or savory basil for a pop of color contrast and a mild herbal flavor. Cilantro, thyme and other fresh herbs can be used as well.

    Honey: adds a wonderful mild sweetness and floral notes to the vinaigrette. Any sort of sweet syrup or brown can be swapped in instead.

    Lime Juice & Zest: The acid in the vinegar is entirely from lime, which enhances the flavor of both the watermelon and feta, making each of those ingredients basically taste more like themselves. A little zest goes a long way!

    Za’atar: herbal, nutty and toasted and inspired by the feta-watermelon dishes on the beaches of Tel Aviv.

    Sumac: This deep red tangy and sour spice, essential in Mediterranean cooking, packs in a tangy and sour punch that bursting with freshness.

    Other additions: To make this salad heartier, even a meal, simply add other chopped ingredients. Such as: arugula, kale, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, black olives, corn, pistachios, sunflower seeds, chili peppers and more!

    Watermelon and feta salad, on a pink plate with fresh herbs.
    lightly spiced
    Watermelon & Feta Salad with basil, sumac and za'atar. On a pink plate, side angle, grey background.
    fully spiced

    Stoked on other savory summer dishes that highlight the best of the seasons fresh fruit bounty? I got ya!

    • Summer Salad Ideas
    • Stone Fruit Salad with Burrata
    • Watermelon Gazpacho with Strawberries
    • Cherry Tomato Confit
    • Cherry Chicken

    Cooks Tips

    • For best results, use the sweetest and juiciest melons from your local farmers market and Greek or Bulgarian sheep's-milk feta (which tends to be creamier and tangier than domestic cow's-milk versions). This salad will only be as good as the quality of your watermelon & feta.
    • Buy feta in blocks. It's much more flavorful and consistently higher quality than the pre-crumbled stuff.
    • Serve salad within 1 hour of making. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for a day.

    It’s the perfect summer salad to brighten up any day!

    slices of pink and yellow mini watermelons
    mini pink and yellow watermelons

    Have ya tried this recipe? I’d love to hear about it and see it too! Please leave a comment below and take a pic and tag it on Instagram with @DanielaGerson. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to see more colorfully delicious food!

    Let's make waves in the kitchen!

    Watermelon & feta rainbow salad with melon cubes in red, pink, orange, yellow, green and white with cubes of feta, purple basil, flaky salt and fresh ground pepper.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 11 votes

    Watermelon & Feta Salad

    Sweet juicy watermelon and briny salty feta are a match made in heaven! This classic Mediterranean pair make a refreshingly easy summer salad that comes together in under 20 minutes!
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time0 mins
    Course: Brunch, Dinner, Lunch, Salad
    Cuisine: Californian
    Servings: 6
    Author: Daniela Gerson

    Ingredients

    • 2.5-3 pound melon any kind or a combo, sliced or scooped into melon balls
    • 8 oz feta cubed or crumbled
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon lime juice
    • 1 teaspoon lime zest
    • 2 teaspoons honey
    • 1/4 cup freshly torn or chopped herbs, such as mint, basil and/or cilantro cut or torn into small pieces
    • 1.5 teaspoon za'atar
    • 1.5 teaspoon sumac
    • kosher salt to taste
    • black pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Whisk together the lime juice and zest, honey, za'atar, sumac and salt while slowly pouring in the olive oil until emulsified.
    • Toss melon balls with the sumac vinaigrette. Top with feta and scatter with fresh herbs (optional).

    Notes

    • For best results, use the sweetest and juiciest melons from your local farmers market and Greek or Bulgarian sheep's-milk feta (which tends to be creamier and tangier than domestic cow's-milk versions). This salad will only be as good as the quality of your watermelon & feta.
    • Buy feta in blocks. It's much more flavorful and consistently higher quality than the pre-crumbled stuff.
    • Serve salad within 1 hour of making. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for a day.. 
    Did you make this recipe? Please share and tag @DanielaGerson! I'd love to see how you're making watermelon & feta waves in the kitchen!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amanda says

      July 30, 2019 at 6:19 pm

      5 stars
      I can't think of a more refreshing salad for the summer, and I love how the salty, briny feta contrasts from the sweet watermelon. Thanks for such a delicious yet easy recipe!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        June 03, 2020 at 10:47 am

        Absolute pleasure Amanda!!! It's so insanely easy and so insanely good! Really appreciate the sweet feedback :)!

        Reply
        • Fran says

          June 02, 2021 at 11:57 am

          5 stars
          I’ve made this recipe a few times and everyone loves it! It was soo easy and very refreshing!

          Reply
          • Daniela Gerson says

            September 11, 2021 at 1:39 pm

            So stoked to hear that Fran! It's def a summer favorite of mine + so fun to add all the different colors of melons around. Thanks so much for the sweet feedback!

            Reply
    2. Mama Maggie's Kitchen says

      August 01, 2019 at 1:35 pm

      5 stars
      This Watermelon & Feta Salad is really moth watering! Love the combination of watermelon and salty feta so much.

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        June 03, 2020 at 10:49 am

        Thank ya so much Maggie! I first had this watermelon-feta combo in Israel and it's so mouth waveringly delicious indeed :)!

        Reply
    3. Leslie says

      August 02, 2019 at 8:35 am

      I would eat this every day if I could! Love all the flavors here! It's a great summer recipe!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        June 03, 2020 at 10:49 am

        Hehehe stoked to hear that Leslie! Thanks so much for the super sweet feedback! Can't wait to make this again over the summer!

        Reply
    4. Sharon says

      August 02, 2019 at 7:01 pm

      5 stars
      You have opened my eyes to a whole new type of fruit salad, ones made with basil oil!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        June 03, 2020 at 10:52 am

        Yessssss!!!! So stoked to hear that Sharon! Made any exciting basil oil salad combos :)? One of the best feedback I can get is to open someone's eyes to new flavor combo's.... really appreciate it!

        Reply
    5. Eden says

      August 02, 2019 at 9:29 pm

      5 stars
      A wonderful and fresh summer salad! We all enjoyed this recipe and it was very easy to make. Pinning it for future gatherings!

      Reply
      • Daniela says

        August 04, 2019 at 9:09 pm

        Such sweet music to my ears Eden!!! Really cant thank ya enough for the feedback and super stoked to hear you all enjoyed it :)!

        Reply
    6. Paula Montenegro says

      August 04, 2019 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      I can easily eat watermelon every day. It's one of my favorite ingredients. And so is feta cheese! So, yes, this might be my favorite summer salad ever! Interesting to learn about basil oil too.

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        June 03, 2020 at 10:50 am

        Thank ya so much Paula for the super sweet feedback! I first had this watermelon/feta combo in Israel and it's sooooo good! Can't wait for ya to try it :).

        Reply
    7. Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says

      August 04, 2019 at 12:43 pm

      This is one of my favourite flavour combos for the summer. So light and fresh 🙂

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        June 03, 2020 at 10:51 am

        Thank ya so much Cathleen! So super stoked to hear that! Light and refreshing indeed :). So easy to make and so much delicious flavor!

        Reply
    8. Leanne @ Crumb Top Baking says

      August 04, 2019 at 4:27 pm

      5 stars
      I definitely feel like I'm missing out on a summer staple by never having a watermelon and feta salad! I agree with you that the sweet watermelon and salty feta are a great pair. I need to make this soon!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        June 03, 2020 at 10:51 am

        Yaya! So stoked to hear that Leanne! Can't wait to hear whatcha think of it! I first had this watermelon/feta combo in Israel and it pretty much blew my mind :)!

        Reply
    9. Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life says

      August 04, 2019 at 6:16 pm

      For years I've thought that I didn't like feta, but having recently tried it in a salad and loved it, I'm definitely more open to trying it in things. I even have feta and sliced watermelon in my fridge right now, so I'm going to have to give this salad a try!

      Reply
      • Daniela says

        August 04, 2019 at 9:08 pm

        Yessssss!!!! So stoked to hear that Claire! And I def rec buying the feta blocks instead of the pre-crumbled stuff. Please let me know whatcha think of it after you make it... I'd love to hear :).

        Reply
    10. Jacquelyn Hastert says

      August 04, 2019 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      I bet this has one delicious crunch! I can't wait to give this a try before summer ends.

      Reply
      • Daniela says

        August 04, 2019 at 9:07 pm

        It absolutely does Jacquelyn! And so stoked to hear you're gonna try it this summer! Def let me know how it goes :).

        Reply
    11. Des says

      August 04, 2019 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      We love our watermelon over here. I can't wait to give this a try! I bet that this is refreshing and loaded with amazing flavor.

      Reply
      • Daniela says

        August 04, 2019 at 9:06 pm

        It absolutely is Des and cant wait for ya to try it either! The key with the dressing really is that basil oil! Such few ingredients yet so much flavor :).

        Reply
    12. Jacqueline says

      August 04, 2019 at 11:12 pm

      5 stars
      So glad that I made it to your pop up because this salad and everything was DELICIOUS 👍👍👍😘

      Reply
      • Daniela says

        August 25, 2019 at 9:05 am

        You are too kind Jacqueline! And I'm so super stoked to hear that you enjoyed this salad at my pop up! Thank you!!!

        Reply
    13. Amy says

      August 05, 2019 at 3:51 am

      5 stars
      This is the perfect summer salad! I love how you added the feta and basil to make all the flavors pop. I cannot wait to try this recipe!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        June 03, 2020 at 10:53 am

        Yesssss!!!! So super stoked to hear that Amy! Thanks so much for the sweet feedback and can't wait to hear whatcha think of it :)!

        Reply

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    Meet Daniela

    Hi, I'm Daniela!
                              • I'M AN ORIGINAL •
    In the food photography & styling world, I do both.
    I’m self-trained in everything I do: chef, food photographer, food stylist, and recipe developer. I’m not trained in a particular photographic or food style; I’ve arrived at my own. It’s why I’m unique.
    I’m on a mission to help people see how sexy vegetables are—by sourcing the most colorful produce imaginable from local farm markets and emphasizing the beauty of real food in utterly enchanting food photography.
    Welcome to Waves in the Kitchen! I’ll be sharing delicious recipes, sprinkled with surf adventures, inspiring ya to live a more healthful plant filled life, filled with joy and gratitude.
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    528 shares