The oft-obligatory appearance of watermelon at picnics will become one that is repeatedly requested by guests when you show up with this jazzy Watermelon Feta Salad, which is beautifully sweet and a 'lil spicy. Plus, it's tied together with a simple Honey Lime Dressing.
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Watermelon is one of those fruits that makes the obligatory appearance at summertime gatherings. No doubt it’s great for pairing with grilled goods like hamburgers and brats, providing a refreshingly sweet reprieve from carbs and proteins. But on its lonesome, it doesn’t exactly arouse excitement.
What’s unfortunate about watermelon is that it’s often served as-is. I say "unfortunate" because watermelon is more versatile than people tend to think. The addition of a few carefully chosen ingredients to a bowl of diced watermelon will allow you to create one stellar salad. Jalapeno, watermelon, and feta make one easy and delicious salad.
If you love fruits with some flavor, you've got to try my Mexican Fruit Salad and these Frozen Grapes with Tajin next!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Versatile: This watermelon salad works for just about any summertime event or meal and you can easily add ingredients to use up produce you have on hand or to customize it to your tastes.
- Simple ingredients: Less than 10 ingredients are all you need to whip this simple fruit salad up!
- Great flavor: If you're looking for a watermelon salad that doesn't taste like all the rest, this is IT! Fresh jalapeno adds some welcome and complementary heat. By the way, if you love watermelon check out this awesome Watermelon Agua Fresca.
Watermelon Salad Ingredients
You will need the following to make this recipe.
- Watermelon - Opt for a seedless watermelon to avoid having to deal with seeds.
- Jalapeno - Remove the seeds and pith to keep the heat level down. Or, go ahead and use something similar, like poblano or Thai chilis.
- Feta - Brings tang and saltiness, which is quite complementary to sweet watermelon. Buy it pre-crumbled or buy a block of feta and crumble it yourself. You could also use crumbly queso fresco cheese.
- Lime zest and lime juice - In a pinch, you could use lemon instead.
- Honey - A nice drizzle of honey is lovely here. A drizzle of hot honey could be even better!
- Chives (optional) - A few fresh chives helps play up the savory edge to this salad, but you could also use basil or cilantro.
I’ll happily devour a bowlful of plain old watermelon, but its mellow sweetness makes it perfect for pairing with acidic, salty, and spicy flavors. In this recipe, jalapenos bring the heat, lime juice and lime zest add brightness, and feta cheese brings a savory edge.
This recipe was inspired by Food & Wine’s Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below - keep scrolling!
Variations
Maybe you want to mix it up and add an ingredient or two. Here are some suggested additions that you could add to this easy salad.
- Greens: Add some lettuce (shredded iceberg), arugula, or spring mix to the salad.
- More Veggies or Fruit: Cucumber, avocado, blueberries, and olives all make a great addition.
- Change the Flavors: Add some cilantro, basil, fennel, or mint to give the salad a slightly different flavor. Some red onion or toasted pine nuts would also add great flavor and texture contrast to the salad.
- Add Protein: Some proscuitto might be a lovely addition as it's a mild preserved meat that plays well with the flavors in this salad.
- Grains: Quinoa works great for a heartier version of this salad.
How to Make Spicy Watermelon Feta Salad - Directions
To make this recipe, follow these directions, starting with a quick honey lime dressing.
- Step 1: Make the dressing. Add the lime juice and honey to a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Step 2: Add ingredients. Add the watermelon, jalapeno, chives, and lime zest to the bowl and gently stir to combine the ingredients together and coat in the dressing.
- Step 3: Finish the salad. Add the feta cheese and a pinch of salt, gently stirring to incorporate. Serve immediately.
Just look at it. It’s pretty, it’s pink, and it’s unassuming. But the first bite reveals a complexity that belies its appearance.
Expert Tips - Serving Suggestions
- Try cutting watermelon into nice little cubes or use a melon baller to scoop out uniformly round pieces to achieve a pleasing presentation.
- Serve this salad in bowls, on skewers, or as a stacked appetizer. If serving on skewers, try adding thinly sliced jalapeno between the watermelon pieces. If stacking, try opting for larger pieces of feta for balance.
Recipe FAQs
This salad is 100% best prepared immediately before serving. You can prepare the watermelon, jalapeno, and chives in advance. Just keep each ingredient in separate containers in the refrigerator until ready to serve. A fine dice on the jalapenos is nice as is your best attempt to cut the watermelon into relatively uniform squares. And while you’re in preparation mode, whip up the dressing ahead of time and refrigerate as well.
For best results, just leave yourself a few minutes beforehand to quickly prepare this salad before serving.
I love pairing this salad with most any type of grilled protein, like this grilled ranch chicken or these grilled boneless chicken thighs. It's also great served with shredded Iceberg or a spring mix tossed in to add extra crunch. For a simple lunch or snack, pair it with some spicy cucumber sandwiches or spicy tuna salad sandwiches.
Because salty feta combines beautifully with sweet watermelon, creating an explosion of flavors in your mouth. When I first heard of this salad combination my immediate reaction was that the fruit and cheese combo sounded odd. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Ever tried salt on watermelon? It's awesome! The salt highlights the sweetness of the fruit. Here, the salty feta cheese highlights the sweetness of the fruit. It's a beautiful pairing, that salty-sweet combo of watermelon and feta in a salad.
More Easy Salad Recipes to Try
If you tried this watermelon salad recipe (or any other recipe on Midwexican), please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the 📝 comments below!
Watermelon Feta Salad (with Jalapeno & Lime)
Ingredients
- 3 cups seedless watermelon, cut into cubes
- 1 jalapeno, finely diced
- 2 teaspoons chives (optional)
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- ½ cup feta cheese
- Pinch salt (to taste)
Honey Lime Dressing
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Add lime juice and honey to a bowl. Whisk to combine.1 teaspoon lime juice, ¼ teaspoon honey
- Add watermelon, jalapeno, chives, and lime zest to the bowl and gently stir, folding to combine.3 cups seedless watermelon, cut into cubes, 1 jalapeno, finely diced, 1 teaspoon lime zest, 2 teaspoons chives
- Add feta cheese and a pinch of salt. Gently stir, folding until just combined.½ cup feta cheese, Pinch salt
- Serve immediately.
- Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in a covered container. Use within 24 hours.
Notes
- Try cutting watermelon into nice little cubes or use a melon baller to scoop out uniformly round pieces to achieve a pleasing presentation.
- Serve this salad in bowls, on skewers, or as a stacked appetizer. If serving on skewers, try adding thinly sliced jalapeno between the watermelon pieces. If stacking, try opting for larger pieces of feta for balance.
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