I could eat this Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint all summer. Watermelon, the quintessential summer fruit, pairs so well with briny feta and fresh mint to bring together a mouthful of happiness in every refreshing bite.
You will make this salad again and again this summer. It comes together quickly, too, and no oven required. Does it get any better than that for a summer recipe? Not in my book!
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Why you’ll love this recipe
- In every bite of this salad you get the perfect balance of juicy watermelon, salty feta cheese and cooling mint
- It’s a quick recipe that’s easy to make with super-fresh ingredients
- The sweet-and-savory dressing makes this one of my favorite recipes for a hot day
- Refreshing summer salad is the perfect side dish for barbecues, cookouts and potlucks
Watermelon salad makes for the best summer side
The only downside to me making this simple salad is that my kids and husband try to eat all the watermelon before I can throw together the fixings for the dressing and toss it all together!
Plus, this recipe is too "fancy" for them. Ugh...this is my life - I make delicious food, sometimes they try it, sometimes they don't.
If they try it and like it, they probably won't eat anymore of it. If they try it and don't like it, they definitely won't eat anymore of it.
Does anyone else have this problem with their family?? Sometimes I'm okay with this because it means more for me. In other cases, I end up giving away my goodies to friends, neighbors, our babysitter, strangers.
Salad without lettuce is the best kind of salad
I've seen this sweet watermelon salad made with arugula before. And while I am all for getting my greens in, and I particularly like arugula for its peppery flavor, I prefer this salad without the added greens.
It can be served as a side dish this way, too, which I like. A salad minus the salad part is the best kind, in my opinion.
And, for another easy summery salad recipe, check out my Avocado Corn Salad with White Balsamic Honey Reduction - it's always a crowd-pleaser at my summer picnics and pool parties!
Ingredients & substitutions
- Watermelon: cube a whole watermelon instead of buying ready-cut chunks, as they can get too watery. Read my Pro Tips below for how to choose the juiciest melon
- Feta: use a block of Greek feta instead of the pre-crumbled kind. Blocks of feta are easy to crumble or chop into chunks any size you like. And the flavor is so much better
- Mint: the taste of chopped mint totally makes this salad. But if you aren’t a fan, substitute fresh basil or even cilantro. It’s a great way to use up extra herbs from your garden
- Orange: slice an orange and juice half of it for the dressing
- Lemons: 2 lemons are enough to make ¼ cup of juice. Or substitute lime juice, which works just as well
- Shallot: use red or yellow onions if you can’t find shallots
- Honey: adds a little extra sweetness to the dressing
- Olive oil: I like high-quality extra virgin olive oil with a good fruity flavor
- Salt and pepper
Looking for a watermelon salad without feta?
One of my favorite ways to eat feta cheese is in this watermelon salad. But I know not everyone is a fan of feta. So if that’s the case, you have a couple of options.
Omit the cheese: Serve the salad with no cheese at all. Although I love the salty feta-watermelon combo, it’s still delicious without it.
Make a substitution: Or, swap the feta out for another type of cheese. The best substitutes are fresh mozzarella, blue cheese or goat cheese. They all go really well with watermelon.
How to make copycat Panera Watermelon Feta Salad recipe
Step 1
First, make the dressing. Juice the orange and lemons, straining out the pits. Pour the orange and lemon juice into a medium bowl. Add the minced shallots, honey, salt and pepper. Whisk it all together until the honey is dissolved in the citrus juice.
Add the olive oil slowly and whisk constantly to incorporate. Pour the dressing into a mason jar and screw on the lid. If you don’t have a mason jar you can use a small bowl.
Step 2
For the salad, add the watermelon cubes to a large bowl. Sprinkle in the crumbled feta cheese and mint leaves. Gently stir it all together.
Step 3
Shake the mason jar before drizzling the dressing over the salad. Add just enough to coat the fruit (you may have extra). Toss to combine.
Step 4
Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and enjoy!
Pro tips
- Want the secret to choosing perfectly ripe and juicy melons? Look for a watermelon that is heavy for its size with dark green and yellowish stripes. There should be a creamy yellow spot where the melon sat on the ground as it ripened
- Avoid green stems, which indicate the melon isn’t ripe. When you knock on it you want to hear a deep, hollow sound. And rounder melons are usually sweeter than those that are oval-shaped
- After you’ve picked your perfect watermelon, cut it into bite-size cubes or use a melon baller for something that looks a little fancier.
- It’s important to chill this salad for at least a few hours before serving. The colder the watermelon, the better, especially for those hot summer days
- And when mixing the dressing into the watermelon, be sure to work gently. If you don’t, you’ll end up with mashed, mushy melon. Definitely not what we are going for here
- Got extra watermelon? Find out how long does watermelon last in the fridge and other great watermelon storage tips!
Like this recipe? Follow me on Pinterest for lots more recipes just like this one! And don’t forget to pin this recipe for later by clicking on one of the images below the recipe. Or, click on any of the images in this post to save to Pinterest.
FAQs
Is watermelon salad vegan?
If you want to make a vegan version of this salad, it’s easy to do. Substitute maple syrup or agave nectar for the honey. Omit the cheese entirely or use a plant-based variety.
Does cheese go with watermelon?
I think one of the best ways to eat chilled watermelon is with salty cheese. It might seem like an odd combo, but if you’ve ever eaten your watermelon with a sprinkle of salt, you know what I’m talking about. The salty taste of the cheese brings out the sweetness of the watermelon.
Can you make watermelon feta salad ahead of time?
You can definitely make this salad ahead of time. Store the cubed watermelon, mint and feta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Keep the dressing in a separate container until you’re ready to toss it with the melon and serve.
How long does watermelon last in the fridge?
There are a few methods of storing watermelon and extending its shelf life so that you can save it to enjoy later. Find out how long watermelon lasts in the fridge.
Looking for more summer BBQ recipes? Give these a try:
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Ingredients
Dressing
- ½ navel orange juiced (about ¼ cup)
- 2 lemons juiced (about ¼ cup)
- 1 large shallot minced (about ¼ cup)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salad
- 6 cups seedless watermelon cut into small cubes
- 12 ounces feta cheese diced into small cubes
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves chopped
Instructions
Prepare the Dressing
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the orange juice, lemon juice, shallots, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking constantly.
- Set aside in a mason jar and cover with lid.
Prepare the Salad
- In a large bowl, stir together gently the watermelon, feta, and mint.
- Give mason jar a good shake and drizzle salad with dressing just to coat.
- Toss lightly, being sure to coat all ingredients well.
- Adjust amount of dressing and salt/pepper as desired.
- Serve and enjoy the refreshingness!
Video
Notes
- I like to make this salad ahead of time, leaving all of the salad components and dressing stored in separate containers until just before serving
- You will most likely have extra dressing. Store any leftovers covered in the fridge for up to two weeks
- Recipe inspired by and adapted from Ina Garten
Nutrition
Comments
Shelly
LOVE THIS!
Jen Mitchell
Made this tonight. Everyone loved it! Added some arugula and it was delicious.
Kim
So happy to hear that, Jen! Glad you enjoyed and shared your thoughts 🙂
Shelly
This is my go to summer salad recipe. I take it with me to all of the family events! I eat it all summer for too lunch. It is so good.
Kimberlee Ho
How awesome to hear! This is one of my go-to's all Summer long, too!
Kathy
So cold and delicious! Hits the spot perfectly especially for someone who is only eating liquids and soft foods. Thanks for sharing.
Kimberlee Ho
You're very welcome - enjoy!