This refreshing watermelon salad combines sweet watermelon, salty Kalamata olives, cucumbers, feta cheese, and fresh mint. A simple lemon-and-olive-oil dressing brings it all together, and a pinch of hot paprika adds just the right spice.
This easy summer salad is easy to throw together. Just chop a few ingredients, mix up the dressing, and toss everything together. It's a nice change from the usual fruit salad, especially if you like a sweet-and-salty combination. My family loves this on hot Summer days, but it's good any time of the year, although finding fresh watermelon is a problem in the winter months.
Fresh Watermelon Salad With Feta And Olives
Watermelon is usually served on its own or mixed with other fruits, but it also works well in savory salads. The watermelon's sweetness works surprisingly well with salty olives and feta cheese.
This watermelon salad has a little bit of everything. The sweet onion adds crunch, the mint adds freshness, and the hot paprika adds a bit of heat.
And you don't need a long list of ingredients or any special equipment. A bowl, a knife, and a measuring cup are about all you'll need.
Ingredients For Fresh Watermelon Salad
This salad has just a few ingredients, and each one adds something different.
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Watermelon: Use ripe, sweet watermelon cut into bite-sized cubes. Seedless watermelon makes preparation easier.
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Sweet onion: Thinly sliced sweet onion adds a little crunch without overpowering the other ingredients.
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Kalamata olives: These dark purple olives have a rich, salty flavor. Be sure to use pitted olives.
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Feta cheese: Crumbled feta adds a creamy texture and a salty bite that goes well with the watermelon.
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Olive oil: This is the base of the simple salad dressing.
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Fresh mint: Fresh mint adds a cool, refreshing taste. I used spearmint.
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Lemon juice: Adds a little tartness and balances the sweet watermelon.
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Salt: Just a small amount brings out the flavors.
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Hot paprika or cayenne pepper: Either one adds a little heat. Cayenne is generally hotter, so keep that in mind.
How To Make Fresh Watermelon Mint Salad With Olives And Feta Cheese
This salad is about as easy as it gets. There's no cooking, and everything comes together in one bowl.
Start by cubing the watermelon, chopping the cucumber, and slicing the sweet onion. Add them to a medium bowl with the Kalamata olives.
Next, mix the olive oil, chopped fresh mint, lemon juice, salt, and hot paprika in a small bowl or measuring cup. Stir until everything is well blended.
Pour the dressing over the watermelon mixture, then add the crumbled feta cheese. Stir gently so the watermelon keeps its shape and the feta doesn't get completely mashed.
That's it! Your watermelon salad is ready to serve.
Tips For Making Watermelon Salad
Choose ripe watermelon. Since watermelon is the main ingredient, you want one that's sweet and juicy. A bland watermelon will make a bland salad.
Cut the watermelon into even pieces. Bite-sized cubes are easier to eat and mix with the other ingredients.
Slice the onion thinly. You want a little onion flavor in each bite, not a big chunk of onion.
Use fresh mint. Dried mint won't give the salad quite the same fresh taste. Spearmint is a good choice because it has a mild flavor.
Stir gently. Watermelon can break apart if you mix it too vigorously. Add the feta last and give everything a gentle toss.
Don't make it too far ahead. Watermelon releases juice as it sits, especially after you add the dressing. This salad is best served shortly after mixing.
What To Serve With Watermelon Olive Mint Salad
This watermelon salad makes a nice side dish for summer meals. It's especially good with grilled foods because the cool watermelon balances the smoky flavor of the grill.
Try serving it with grilled chicken, fish, pork chops, or burgers.
It also works as a light brunch salad or a simple lunch when you don't want anything heavy.
Since the recipe makes two servings, it's easy to prepare for a small meal. You can double it if you're serving more people.
How To Store Leftover Watermelon Salad
Store leftover watermelon, olive, and mint salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
The watermelon will release more juice as it sits, and the feta may soften in the dressing. Gently stir the salad before serving.
For the best texture, though, this is one of those salads that's better eaten fresh.
Watermelon Mint Salad With Olives And Feta Cheese Recipe
Sweet watermelon, salty Kalamata olives, fresh mint, and crumbled feta cheese come together in this easy summer salad. The lemon-and-olive-oil dressing adds a little tang, while hot paprika adds a touch of spice.
Servings: 2
Ingredients
2 cups watermelon, cubed
¼ cup sliced sweet onion
12 Kalamata olives, whole, pitted
4 tablespoons feta cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint (I used spearmint)
1 large cucumber, finely chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon hot paprika or cayenne pepper
Instructions
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Put the watermelon, onion, cucumber and olives in a medium bowl.
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In a 2-cup measuring cup or a small bowl, mix the olive oil, mint, lemon juice, salt, and hot paprika until well blended.
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Pour the dressing over the watermelon mixture.
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Top with crumbled feta cheese and stir gently.
Variation
For those of you who do not care for olives, you can omit them and make the recipe exactly as written.
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Watermelon Olive Mint Salad Recipe
Author: Recipe Idea Shop
Ingredients
- 2 cups watermelon cubed
- 1 cucumber large, chopped
- ¼ cup sliced sweet onion
- 12 kalamata olives whole, pitted
- 4 tablespoons feta cheese crumbled
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint I used spearmint
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon hot paprika or cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Put the watermelon, onion, cucumber, and olives in a medium bowl.
- In a 2-cup measuring cup or a small bowl, mix the olive oil, mint, lemon juice, salt, and hot paprika until well blended.
- Pour the dressing over the watermelon mixture.
- Top with crumbled feta cheese, and stir gently.
