Easy Watermelon and Feta Salad Recipe

BySimona
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This post on the watermelon feta salad recipe was first published on the 28th of June 2021.

Picture this: it’s a hot summer day, and you’re sitting in your garden ready to chomp down on some BBQ bits and bobs. You are after a quick and easy salad, so you whip this up and you are serving yourself some of this watermelon and feta salad. A watermelon and feta salad recipe you saw one day while roaming the internet. With a glass of lavender lemonade, a blueberry gin, a grapefruit mocktail or maybe a refreshing lemonade recipe. Looking at the clouds passing by in a serene blue sky.

Now get back to reality, and if you are in the UK it’s a very harsh one. It’s grey, it’s definitely below average for temperatures and you’d be happy to eat soup right now. I get it. But maybe you’re lucky enough somewhere around the world where it’s warm. So this watermelon feta salad recipe is for you, my friend. And everyone hoping for better weather.

I am typing this as I do a bit of guilty shitty TV watching, the one you very much enjoy while doing tasks. My guilty pleasure is, sadly, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. I know, I know. Terrible TV at its best. But I just need something I do not really need to keep up with (the irony of it!) while I do stuff like typing.

I am sure you all have a guilty pleasure, I’d love to know about it! Lately, I just love writing while I watch random TV. Some people get distracted, I get sassy and ready to type all the words. Go figure!

I can’t do music though, that one is for sure, as I am a singer deep inside (the sisters don’t agree haha) so I will just start singing like a madwoman! And of course, that leads to the performance of my life, like the one you have in the shower. Every time. I hope you never ever have to witness anything like this from me. I was told it’s not a fun sight. But if you’re like me, you do you girl and sing your heart out!

Getting back to the watermelon and feta salad recipe, though.

watermelon and feta salad recipe, two glasses of drinks beside, on a light blue wooden board

I don’t know about you, but in this house we LOVE watermelon, dogs included. We just chuck down all the watermelon we can find around, especially when it’s as sweet as sugar. But let me tell you more about the ingredients in this recipe first and a must to add to your summer recipes.

Is watermelon good for you?

The short answer is yes! And it’s surprisingly healthy too! Not only is watermelon high in water, which is great for summer, but it also has plenty of nutrients and vitamins.

Some of these include fibres, loads of vitamin C, vitamin A and minerals and antioxidants. So not only does it helps you keep hydrated, but it also improves your heart health and lowers inflammation. One of the many aspects I love about watermelon is that it’s very good for your skin and hair, as the vitamin C contained in it helps your body make collagen. And we all love some collagen, don’t we?

But I heard eating watermelon can have side effects?

It goes without saying, that eating in moderation it’s great for you. As with every food, abusing it can create side effects. But I can assure you that having a salad, a drink or a couple of slices won’t make you feel bad. Being mostly rich in water and having a high glycemic count, may up your glucose level if you eat too much.

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Are watermelon seeds bad for you?

Funny enough, you may think they are, but actually they are not. They are the most nutrient-dense seeds. They are high in calories and rich in proteins, vitamins, omega 3, omega 6, zinc, magnesium, copper, potassium and fatty acids. So they make an actual great snack when roasted and make a unique add on on top of salads for a crunch.

What can I do with the watermelon skin?

I know, usually it’s cut off and thrown away. But in the spirit of using anything and avoiding food waste, or even learning something new, watermelon skin is edible. You can juice it, cut it and use it in your stir fry. You can pickle it. And surprisingly enough it’s great sugared and candied. The world is your watermelon (Trying to make a pun that didn’t believe it enough!). Find more recipes here.

What is feta? And is it good for you?

Another of the main star of this recipe is feta. A creamy, salty and crumbly white Greek cheese. Traditionally made out of sheep’s and goat’s milk raised on local pasture which gives this cheese its unique flavour. A tangy and sharp sheep cheese. It’s shaped in cubes, salted and put in barrels for up to three days. And then placed in a salted solution and refrigerated for two months before getting distributed.

Anyway, is this cheese good for you? Indeed, feta is a powerhouse of vitamin A, vitamin K, iron, calcium, folate and magnesium. It can support bone health and is amazing for your guts too thanks to the probiotics it contains (live friendly bacteria). It also contains a high amount of sodium and sometimes can be unpasteurized too.

What about rockets?

Also better known as arugula or roquette, these peppery leaves are worldwide famous for their unique taste and benefits. They are part of the Brassica family, same as broccoli, brussels sprouts and kale. Rockets are dense in nutrients, high in fiber and low in calories and carbohydrates.

They are a powerhouse of calcium, potassium, folate, vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin A. Rockets are easy to find and great in salad, on pizza and in pasta too. Yes, you read that right!

Can I sub anything from this watermelon feta salad?

As there are very few ingredients, I wouldn’t sub much. But in case the rocket peppery flavour is not for you, you could swap it for your favourite leafy green. Feta can be subbed for another cheese of similar consistency. And if olive oil and balsamic vinegar are not for you, some lime juice can also go a long way. And must say that it tastes great with watermelon if I might add so myself.

But enough with my science corner, let’s focus on the watermelon and feta salad recipe I keep promising you.

I must say, I love the juxtaposition of sweet and salty in this dish. The watermelon being this sweet and the feta so salty and soft, it’s just delicious. And something you will crave over and over again I can assure you! We added rocket to this for some extra peppery flavour, so make sure your rocket it’s fresh. My secret with it it’s to rub the leaves between your hands for a few seconds so that the full flavour is released. You are very welcome. So get your forks ready and get eating!

Watermelon and feta salad in three plates, bread, two glasses on the side

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Simona
A refreshing and salty salad for your next garden lunch!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients
  

For the Salad

  • 400 g watermelon cut into cubes
  • 40 g rocket arugula
  • 150 g feta cut into cubes

For the Dressing

  • extra virgin olive oil
  • balsamic vinegar
  • chilli flakes

Instructions
 

  • Get your watermelon ready: remove the rind, then chop in cubes.
  • Prepare your feta as well: dry it with some paper towel, then chop it in cubes as well.
  • Wash and dry the rocket to make sure it won’t make everything else soggy.
  • Now prep the dressing – this was very much made on instinct, so make sure you taste everything. Mix it well and set aside.
  • Now grab a mixing bowl and mix all the ingredients together and serve immediately.
Keyword watermelon and feta salad recipe
watermelon feta salad in three plates and a side of bread, a hand mixing the salad
watermelon feta salad in plates and a side of bread, a hand mixing the salad, picture from above
watermelon feta salad in three plates and a side of bread, a hand mixing the salad

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Falcon Oblong Pie Dish x 6 – £17.90 / IKEA Wine Glass x 4 – £9.00 / Stoneware Side Plates x 6 – £44.99 (similar)

This watermelon and feta salad recipe is very easy, quick to whip up but oh so refreshing. It’s the perfect summer dish, light and fast. It’s the recipe you want to have when the weather is too warm and you can’t even imagine turning on the gas or the instant pot. The perfect one to take around in picnics and whip up last minute for dinners you didn’t remember to have organised. Or a last-minute recipe to bring to the BBQ you were invited but couldn’t face cooking. Plenty of ideas and purposes!

Pro Tips for this watermelon and feta salad recipe

  • First off – do not dress this salad until you’re very much ready to serve and eat. This is because the watermelon will release the water in it and everything will get soggy and weird. I am 99.9% sure you do not want that.
  • Second. I am aware you’re probably questioning why I did not mention the seeds in the recipe. I do not remove the seeds. Call me a lazy butt, but I don’t see why it is such a big issue. I am most definitely not ingesting loads of them that would make me sick. And I hate having to dig into a watermelon to remove them all. But also as we said before, they can be a great snack too!
  • I add some extra feta in mine because, you know, I am extra. But you know I love feta since I use it in a few dishes like this one with roasted tomatoes. And you can also ditch the cubed one and have crumbled feta cheese on top. No one is here judging!
  • If you don’t like feta, you can try another slightly firm soft goat or sheep cheese. I know, confusing! You would get something less runny than gorgonzola or a brie. Even if, I think that as a combo it could be quite tasty!
  • If you don’t like rockets, you can swap them for mint. It will still be a refreshing salad and the combo works perfectly. Think like prepping a quick Caprese salad with something sharper like feta and juicy with watermelon instead of tomatoes. Chef’s kiss!

Anyways, before I blab even more – and you know I can definitely do that! – let me just end this here. I hope you will enjoy this salad and if you fancy checking out a few more of our summer recipes, this is our latest collection!

If you are still up for some more refreshing recipes for a BBQ or just summer recipes, check out these peach ricotta crostini and strawberry lemonade.

If you liked this recipe, why not PIN IT for later? And for more recipes, subscribe to our newsletter!

watermelon feta salad in three plates and a side of bread, a hand mixing the salad, pin image

Content Creator

Simona is the self-appointed editor-in-chief and has a background in food & drink. She is an introvert who loves staying in, cooking and baking, and spending time with Otis, her dachshund. She loves to watch crime docs with Cristina, and playing Animal Crossing a lot more than is worth mentioning.

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106 Comments

  1. This just sounds perfect for those summer months! I absolutely love watermelon, so will be giving this one a go…i bet it goes wonderfully with the feta cheese!
    Thanks for sharing another fab recipe!
    Aimsy xoxo
    Aimsy’s Antics

    Reply

  2. This looks so amazing! I always love a good salad and since we’re going to warmer weather soon, I can’t wait to make something like this up.

    Reply

  3. This is my first time hearing about watermelon salad but boy does it sound good. Looks like the perfect thing to have during the summer. Definitely going to give this a try!

    Reply

  4. I love fruits in salads. I have a huge sweet tooth, adding fruits like watermelon and mangoes makes me enjoy salads more. Simple salad with an array of flavors and textures: sweet melon tapers the bitter peppery taste of the arugula with the creaminess of the feta cheese. Nice!

    Reply

    1. I never thought about adding mangoes, such a great idea! I completely get the great thing about flavour and textures! Thank you for reading! x

      Reply

  5. It is a humid summer here. Watermelon based salad sounds interesting to try. Never came across a recipe involving cheese and watermelon. It looks good 👍

    Reply

  8. This looks delicious! Watermelon is one of those flavours that just screams summer, and that’s what I’ve been craving as of late with all the sunshine and warmer temperatures starting to finally emerge around here. I can’t wait for summer to be here but I can start to create that summer feeling with foods like this. Definitely giving it a try this week!

    Reply

  11. Your first paragraph had me 😩 It has been incredibly sunny and humid here recently, enough that the weather had enough and it has been raining since yesterday haha. But it will be sunny again soon and I’ll be thinking about this salad, it looks so inviting.

    Reply

    1. Honestly, the weather has been the same here, sunny and rainy the day after! Hope you get to try it! Thank you for reading! x

      Reply

  13. Great post! So much more than a recipe. I especially enjoyed the science corner . Also chuckled a good few times. Keep up the goof huh the good work! (Here’s another bad pun😆)

    Reply

  15. I’ve never ever tried watermelon in a salad before but it’s something I’m going to try asap! I love feta cheese so the combination of the two sounds devine. This salad looks and sounds blooming delicious! Thank you so much for sharing with us, I’ll for sure be making this asap! Xo

    Elle – ellegracedeveson.com

    Reply

    1. Oh its such a great add on to salad, the texture and sweetness with the arugula is amazing! Hope you try it soon Elle! Thank you for reading! x

      Reply

  18. What a delicious and fresh combination for spring! I had never considered combining those two things and I think the saltiness of the feta with the sweet juicy watermelon sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  19. This sounds like such a refreshing meal! I absolutely love watermelon. I didn’t know that you can juice or stir fry the skin. Not sure if I would try that but good to know! Thank you for sharing xx

    Reply

  24. This sounds like a great warmer day lunch or a compliment for a bbq! I love watermelon. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

    Lauren x

    Reply

  25. This is Summer on a plate, even if it’s miserable and grey outside! I adore feta and watermelon is my second favourite melon, the first being honeydew. Definitely need to try this one, thank you!

    Reply

  27. Yum, what a great recipe! I’ve had watermelon & feta salad before, but not with arugula. That would be a great addition! I love how you’ve highlighted that every part of the watermelon is edible and nutritious. Watermelon is so refreshing, a definite summer favorite!

    Reply

  28. We love watermelon in this house too! This looks blooming delish. I feel like I can taste it just by looking at your photos – which are amazing btw – I don’t think I’ve had this combo together, but we’ll definitely be trying.

    Claire X
    http://www.clairemac.co.uk

    Reply

    1. I am so glad to have found some fellow watermelon lovers! This is so refreshing, hope you try it soon! Thank you for reading! x

      Reply

  29. This sounds right up my street! I love watermelon. So simple to make and I love a good vegetarian option. Thank you for sharing this!

    Lauren

    Reply

  31. This is the perfect recipe for the summer. I cannot wait to try this dish. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

  32. Beautiful presentation, Simona! I’ve had this salad before, it is delicious! I love that you paired it with arguala, which gives the salad a nice, spicy bite (even without the chili flakes).

    Reply

  33. OMG, no way! I’ve got a similar recipe coming out tomorrow! Watermelon and feta are my favs and it’s such a lovely combo! I’ve got to try it with balsamic and chilli flakes soon! I’ll have to try it your way too. Thanks for sharing x

    Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com

    Reply

  34. Lovely recipe! I never would’ve thought to put those two together but this sounds truly delicious, and perfect for summer. Thanks for sharing x

    Reply

  39. This sounds perfect for our triple digit temps right now! Like, I am not cooking or baking for awhile. We are usually in the 60’s or 70’s (Fahrenheit) in June, but today it was over 100. I’ve been eating watermelon and salads like crazy. I will definitely be whipping this up soon!

    Reply

  40. This seems yummy! Another way to eat watermelon for us haha. Never thought of it as a salad but will give it a try.

    Reply

  41. This looks heavenly! I will need to try this recipe out this summer, it has all of my favorite ingredients!

    Reply

  42. Hi Simona,

    This watermelon and feta salad sounds delicious. I don’t care if it’s typical British Summer weather at the moment (ie it’s raining!), I like a good salad so I’m game for this anyway.

    Not only that but … it’s meat-free Monday! So this sounds an ideal option 🙂

    Reply

  43. Okay, it’s official, I absolutely MUST have this salad as soon as humanly possible. It sounds so refreshing and delicious and I know it would be delightfully with some of my favorite summer cocktails! I’m really glad you shared this because you’re giving me insane salad inspiration haha!

    Reply

  44. Can you ever go wrong with a watermelon and feta salad? I think not. An all time favourite! I can eat just as is. And your recipe is quite easy.

    Reply

  45. I don’t really like feta cheese unfortunately, but otherwise this sounds like an amazing summer salad! I’ll have to find something to substitute the cheese x

    Reply

  46. I love watermelon and we have a lot of it here 😀 My mom would love it as well! She is a salad lover x

    Reply

  47. This look so delicious! I’ll definitely try it out if I’m able to find some vegan cheese. Thank you for sharing x

    Reply

  48. this looks delicious! watermelon is one of my favourite fruits, it just signifies summer to me! x

    Reply

  52. I love watermelon too. But I’ve never really had a salad with fruit in it? Which surprises me because I love pineapple on pizza. This sounds like the perfect, refreshing Summer salad! If it wasn’t raining all week, I’d have tried this!

    Reply

    1. Look, Jenny, I’m probably going to lose my Italian citizenship over this – but I love pineapple on pizza too! The sun will come out eventually, I know!

      Reply

  53. Omg this look scrumptious! I’m not much of a salad eater but I love watermelon on a hot summer’s day. Rocket and feta yes please. I also have to multitask when I’m doing something. I can’t just eat in silence. I need to put some TV or something on haha

    http://thesydneysider.com/

    Reply

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