Watermelon and Feta Salad

A white oval bowl filled with a salad of watermelon, feta cheese, and fresh mint, a serving spoon, and watermelon wedges and mint sprigs in the background.

5 from 1 vote

This refreshing watermelon and feta salad is the perfect summer blend of sweet and savory, bursting with juicy seedless watermelon, salty crumbled feta, crunchy onion, and a touch of cool mint, all tossed in a light balsamic and olive oil dressing.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Salads

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Author: Lynne Webb

Ingredients

4 cups seedless watermelon cut into small (1/2-inch) cubes
1/3 cup chopped sweet onion
3/4 cup crumbled Feta cheese divided
3 tablespoons chiffonade of fresh mint divided
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Combine the watermelon, onion, 1/2 cup of the feta cheese and 2 tablespoons of the mint in a mixing bowl.
Drizzle with the olive oil and vinegar, toss gently and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Transfer the salad to a serving dish and scatter the remaining cheese and mint on top.
Serve immediately.

Notes

Shopping for Watermelon

We like to use seedless watermelon for this dish. They come in a variety of sizes and in both yellow and red flesh, although the red variety is much more common. Technically, seedless watermelons aren't completely seedless. They do contain small, edible white seeds similar to cucumbers.

If you're buying a whole watermelon, look for one that's free from cuts, bruises and soft spots. It should feel somewhat heavy for its size and have a creamy yellow spot on the bottom where it rested on the ground. This is a good indication that it was allowed to ripen on the vine.

Safe handling note: Be sure to wash the outside of the watermelon under running water before cutting to avoid transferring any contaminants to the flesh inside.

Make Ahead Tips

If you want to prep this watermelon and feta salad ahead of time, you can cut up the watermelon and onion, chiffonade the mint and crumble the feta in advance - just store everything in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to a day in advance. Due to the high water content of the watermelon, it tends to release juices as it sits, so it's important to wait to assemble and dress this salad until just before serving.

Nutrition