Watermelon Salad Recipe

Looking down into a scooped out watermelon filled with rounded watermelon balls garnished with mint and feta cheese.

5 from 7 votes

Watermelon Salad is one of the most incredible refreshing summer fruit salads. It has a light citrus dressing, and fresh mint, topped with crumbled feta cheese. Serve this side dish for picnics, potlucks, and BBQ cookouts in a carved-out watermelon for the salad bowl!

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Salads & Dressing

Cuisine: American

Keyword: picnic salad, watermelon recipe, watermelon salad

Servings:

Calories: 167kcal

Author: Lisa Hatfield

Equipment

Ingredients

1 small watermelon washed
¼ cup good olive oil
1 cup fresh mint leaves minced or tiny ribbons (plus extra for garnish)
2 oranges zest and juice
2 limes zest and juice
salt and pepper to taste
4 oz. crumbled feta cheese optional (8 oz for a larger watermelon)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Wash skin of watermelon in cool water and a splash of vinegar.
Slice a small portion off the bottom of the watermelon so it sits flat on the counter.
Cut the top off, about 2 " down to form your salad bowl.
In a medium bowl, whisk olive oil, orange zest and juice, lime zest and juice, mix in mint, and feta cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. Optional, serve the feta cheese in a little bowl on the side and let people add their own.
Using a small melon baller, scoop out all the watermelon, into a medium bowl, leaving just the watermelon rind. Pour any remaining watermelon juice into the bowl with the dressing. Pour the dressing over the watermelon pieces, and toss to combine all ingredients well.
Place the watermelon salad back into the carved out watermelon bowl, and garnish with mint sprigs. Optional, serve the feta cheese in a little bowl on the side and let people add their own.
Keep covered with plastic wrap in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Serve chilled.

Notes

watermelon

Either a small round or large ripe watermelon will work, a large watermelon will serve a bigger crowd.

PRO TIP: cutting that little slice off the bottom will help it sit flat and not roll!

feta cheese

You can have a little bowl next to the watermelon salad and let people sprinkle it on top if they want some. 4 oz. crumbled feta cheese is good for a small watermelon, and 8 oz for a larger watermelon.

make-ahead

One of the things I love most about this recipe, is I make it the day before, and wrap it up with plastic wrap, then serve it at the party nice and chilled.

Nutrition