Sweet watermelon, tangy feta, and crisp cucumbers are the best salad combo in this watermelon feta cucumber salad that gets dressed in a fresh basil lime dressing and goes well with any summer meal.
Watermelon hanging out in my lunch salad is my latest hack to getting the maximum amount of summer vibes in my day.
Yes, I’m fully aware we haven’t technically crossed over into summer territory yet via the calendar, but it’s definitely feeling like it around here so you’re getting the food to match it.
And this salad? It’s chock full of it and you’d better be saving your best watermelon for this one.
This salad is a dream for us low-maintenance salad gals since it requires minimal chopping (just the cucumber and melon!) and you can even blitz the dressing up ahead of time for easy assembly when the salad munching moment arrives.
Already looking forward to my own next salad moment, lemme tell ya.
This Salad Features…
- Sweet watermelon cubes and crunchy cucumber slices
- Tangy feta cheese and lots of peppery arugula
- A fresh lime basil vinaigrette drizzled on top
Making the Salad
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Basil
- Lime
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Arugula
- Watermelon
- Cucumber
- Red onion
- Feta cheese
Tips for Perfect Watermelon Cucumber Salad
- Blend dressing – you can use a blender or food processor for this part.
- Rinse red onion in water – this removes a bit of the extra bite from the onion.
- Use fresh feta – I recommend buying a feta block packed in water and hand-crumble it yourself. The flavor is so much better than pre-crumbled.
- Assemble salad just before serving – this will keep the ingredients from getting soggy from the watermelon and dressing.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on this salad.
- Use another melon – try cantaloupe or honeydew.
- Substitute a different cheese – try shaved asiago, Parmesan, goat cheese, mozzarella pearls, or burrata.
- Choose another greens base – romaine, spinach, or a spring mix are great stand-ins for the arugula.
- Use a bottled dressing – try an Italian dressing or balsamic vinaigrette. You will need about 1/2 cup dressing.
Make Ahead Instructions
Follow these instructions for time-saving make ahead tips.
- Make the dressing – the dressing stores well in refrigerator up to 1 week. Shake well before dressing the salad.
- Prep the veggies – dice the watermelon and cucumber and store separately in refrigerator up to 4 days.
- Assembly – when ready to assemble, arrange the salad ingredients on a serving platter or bowl and top with feta and dressing per recipe instructions.
The flavors here really do speak for themselves! The sweet watermelon goes so well against the crunchy cucumber and peppery arugula while the tangy feta brings a bit of indulgence and that wonderful basil dressing brings all the fragrance.
Just summer lovin’ on a plate!
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More quick summer salads to make next!
Watermelon Feta Cucumber Salad
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Ingredients
Basil Lime Dressing
- 1/2 cup firmly-packed fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 cup freshly-squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Watermelon Salad
- 2 cups firmly-packed arugula
- 3 cups 1/2-inch cubed watermelon
- 1 medium seedless cucumber, ends trimmed and thinly sliced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced and rinsed in cold water
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Additional fresh basil and grated lime zest for topping
Instructions
Basil Lime Dressing
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Season dressing with salt and pepper to taste and refrigerate until ready to use.
Watermelon Salad
- Arrange arugula, watermelon, cucumber, and red onion on a serving platter or in a large bowl. Top with feta cheese and drizzles of basil lime dressing. Top salad with a little salt and pepper to taste, additional fresh basil, and lime zest. Serve immediately and enjoy!
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