Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint

Refreshing Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint

This watermelon feta salad with mint will become your new GO-TO side dish alongside grilled protein at summer BBQs.

Before you start turning up your nose at the idea of watermelon combining with seemingly savory ingredients, let me say…

I was right there with you.

That is, until I tried a bite of this epic flavor combination for the first time.

Who knew that cubes of juicy watermelon, crumbles of Greek feta cheese, and fresh mint tossed in a lime dressing could be so GOOD together in a simple salad?

And not to mention, it’s SO very quick and easy to make. That means you’ll never again wonder what to make to bring to your next July 4th picnic or birthday party barbecue on a hot summer day.

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you will need to make this watermelon feta salad recipe include:

• Watermelon. You can either choose to cut a watermelon, or skip a few minutes of prep and purchase the already cubed and pre-packaged watermelon. Just make sure you select a seedless watermelon for the best salad. For a fancy look, use a melon baller. Check out how to pick a watermelon to ensure you find a sweet watermelon with the best flavors.
• Cucumber. English cucumbers that are seedless are used in this recipe. Crunchy cucumbers are a main ingredient, so be sure to get a firm one without brown spots.
• Feta Cheese. Often I will tell you that certain cheeses are relatively interchangeable. For this recipe, I would not advise swapping out the crumbly feta cheese for any other cheese. Salty feta cheese has the perfect texture and tanginess that will really accentuate the watermelon.
• Mint. Fresh sweet mint, not spearmint, is finely chopped and added in just before serving. If you don’t have mint on hand, other herbs like fresh basil leaves will work, too, but will give this salad a very different flavor.
• Onion. Red onion gives a beautiful pop of color and a nice bite to counteract the sweetness from the melon. Feel free to substitute with sweet onion.
• Lime. Freshly squeezed tart lime juice is mixed together with olive oil to make the simple vinaigrette. In a pinch, lemon juice will work but the taste will be affected. Avoid bottled lime juice if possible.
• Serrano or Jalapeño Pepper. This is completely optional, but if you want to add a secret kick to this salad, you can finely dice some serrano or jalapeño pepper. Just make sure to rinse and seed the pepper before mixing in so it does not overwhelm your salad!

How to Make Watermelon Feta Salad

Here are the simple steps for making this delicious watermelon salad recipe:

Cut the Watermelon

Cut the watermelon flesh into ½ inch cubes. 

Make sure to check out this guide for tips on How to Cut Watermelon. 

Prep the Cucumber

If you don’t like the skin on your cucumbers you can choose to partially peel it (like I did!) or fully peel the cucumbers before dicing.

As you’ll see in the image, I went ahead and removed the “seeds” that still remained in the seedless cucumbers.  This part of the cucumber is rather juicy and will add extra moisture to your salad that will inevitably water it down.

Then cut it into ½ inch cubes.

Make the Salad

Combine salad ingredients including fresh watermelon, cucumber, feta cheese, onion, oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper in a large serving bowl. 

Toss gently until ingredients are well incorporated.

Mix in fresh mint if serving immediately. If storing to serve later, reserve mint and add just before serving.

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: This easy watermelon feta salad is best when served within 4 hours of preparation. Wait to finely chop and add the fresh mint just before serving for the most flavor. You can add additional fresh mint leaves and crumbled feta for a gorgeous presentation, too.
• To Store: If you have leftover watermelon mint salad, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. But please note, the watermelon and cucumber will continue to release their juices and make the leftovers pretty soggy after a few days.
• To Freeze: This is not recommended as the texture of the watermelon and cucumber will change. 

Can you make watermelon feta mint salad ahead of time?

You can make watermelon feta mint salad ahead of time, but no more than 4 hours in advance. As the watermelon cubes sit, they will release juices and become soggy. For the best results, wait to add the chopped mint until the last minute when you’re ready to serve.

Is watermelon feta salad healthy?

Yes, cubed watermelon feta salad is a healthy and refreshing summer salad. This summer meal is packed full of nutrients and beneficial ingredients.

What to serve with watermelon feta mint salad?

This fresh salad can be served with many summer dishes! Try it with a main dish like grilled chicken, pork, shrimp, steak, or kabobs. Or, serve with a variety of cold salads like pasta salad, potato salad, and Caprese salad. 

What dressing goes with watermelon feta salad?

This watermelon feta salad is mixed with lime juice and olive oil, which is not a typical dressing. If you prefer a traditional dressing, try an apple cider vinaigrette for a fresh kick.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Buy seedless. It’s best if you buy both seedless watermelon and seedless cucumber so you don’t get big crunchy bites in your salad.
• Keep the skin. Leave some of the cucumber skin on for a pop of color and a crunchier bite.
• Serve quick. The watermelon and cucumber will release liquid and make the salad soggy after a few hours.
• Use fresh lime. Freshly squeezed lime juice gives the best flavor. 
• Make it spicy. Add in some diced jalapeño or serrano peppers.
• Garnish for flair. Sprinkle some extra feta and mint over the top for a beautiful presentation.

Other Easy Picnic Recipes

If you enjoyed this quick salad, you might also like another easy side dish recipe perfect for a picnic or summer potluck.

Italian Dressing Pasta Salad is a classic everyone loves.

Avocado Corn Salad and Avocado Egg Salad are both creamy and so delicious.

Cucumber Salad with Dill is the perfect side dish in the hot months. Stick with the fruit in your salad theme and try out this Strawberry Spinach Salad.

For some twists from around the globe, try Mediterranean Couscous Salad or Mexican Quinoa Salad.

Of course, you can’t go wrong with Chicken Salad with Grapes.