Description
A bright, refreshing, and zero-cook summer side dish combining sweet watermelon, salty feta, fresh mint, and a tangy balsamic-lime dressing. It’s ready in 10 minutes and perfect for BBQs and picnics.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–5 cups watermelon, cubed (seedless preferred)
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled (Greek feta preferred)
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
- ½ medium red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup walnuts or pecans, toasted
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash the watermelon, remove the rind, and cut the flesh into 1-inch cubes. Place in a colander or pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Finely dice the red onion. For a milder flavor, soak the diced onions in ice water for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
- Toast the walnuts or pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and slightly browned. Let them cool completely.
- In a small jar or bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, lime juice, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the watermelon cubes, drained red onions, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Sprinkle the chopped mint and cooled toasted nuts over the salad.
- Drizzle the dressing over the ingredients and gently toss with a spatula to coat everything evenly without crushing the watermelon.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.
Notes
[‘Pat watermelon cubes dry to prevent the salad from becoming watery.’, ‘Soak red onions in ice water to reduce sharpness.’, ‘Toast nuts to enhance flavor and crunch.’, ‘Serve cold for best texture and refreshment.’, ‘Do not freeze this salad as watermelon becomes mushy upon thawing.’, ‘Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 5
Keywords: watermelon feta salad, summer side dish, easy salad, no cook recipe, healthy summer food, balsamic watermelon, gluten-free side dish