Watermelon Basil Salad

By Erin · August 14, 2023 · 1 Comment

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This easy Watermelon Basil Salad tosses cubed watermelon, basil, mint, feta, and red onion in a sweet and floral champagne honey vinaigrette. It’s a refreshing side dish that’s best enjoyed under the summer sun!

Watermelon is a sweet summer treat, but how are you supposed to use up the entire melon? I’ve got it… Watermelon Basil Salad!

Sweet and refreshing watermelon salad with feta and basil is the answer when you need to use up the leftover watermelon in your fridge. This recipe uses a whopping 6 cups of watermelon, so there’s enough for the whole potluck or summer party!

You’ll find an elegant and irresistible mix of watermelon, feta, basil, mint, and red onion in this easy summer salad. The refreshing and herbaceous mix is complimented by the 4-ingredient champagne vinaigrette, leaving you with a crowd-pleasing salad to serve at the start of your summer meals. It’s delicious with grilled chicken, white bean salad, and more!

Champagne honey vinaigrette - The watermelon salad is dressed in a floral, sweet, and tangy dressing. It’s easy to make using champagne vinegar, honey, olive oil, and salt.

Watermelon - When shopping, look for a seedless watermelon that feels heavy for its size, has dark green skin, and has a large yellow-green “field” spot (this blemish marks where the melon grew in the field). All of these qualities mean that the watermelon will be full of flavor and perfectly ripe.

Red onion - I love the contrast of crunchy and pungent red onion next to the sweet watermelon. You can use shallots as a substitute if the red onion is too strong for you.

Feta - Feta and watermelon are a match made in heaven. The cheese is creamy and salty, which cuts through the sweet and juicy watermelon.

Basil and mint - The herbs must be fresh!

Step 1: Make the dressing. Whisk the vinegar, honey, olive oil, and salt together in a glass measuring cup or small bowl.

Step 2: Assemble. Add the watermelon, onion, feta, basil, and mint to a large salad bowl. Pour the dressing over top, toss to combine, and enjoy!

Is raw red onion too tart for you? Soak the slices in cold water for 10 minutes. This way, the stronger onion flavors will be toned down and will taste much more appetizing.

Watermelon basil salad is so much fun to play with. There are endless variations and substitutions available and, with the following ideas, you can make it your own! Check them out:

Every summer meal should include watermelon feta salad as an appetizer or side dish. Pair it with BBQ chicken thighs, buffalo chickpea burgers, grilled zucchini, and Mediterranean pasta salad for a flavorful and well-balanced dinner.

Yes, the salad can be assembled without the dressing up to 1 day in advance. Wait to add the dressing until right before serving or else the salad will become soggy and watery.

Refrigerator: Store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!