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Watermelon Salad with Feta and Balsamic Vinaigrette

This Watermelon Salad is a refreshing and satisfying dish that perfectly balances sweet and savory flavors. The juicy watermelon chunks are paired with tangy crumbles of feta cheese, avocado, cucumbers, and basil. The salad is then drizzled with a balsamic lime dressing that adds a zesty kick and a touch of acidity, bringing all the flavors together.

watermelon salad with feta, basil, cucumbers, avocado, strawberries, onion, and balsamic lime dressing in a white bowl
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Looking for the perfect summer side dish? Each bite is a burst of refreshing sweetness and tanginess that will leave your taste buds craving for more. It’s an ideal dish for summer gatherings, picnics, or just a light and healthy snack. It works great for Juneteenth celebrations, too!

How to Select the Watermelon

You can grab a whole one or pre-cut. Pre-cut has already been sliced or cut into smaller pieces, typically sold in plastic containers in grocery stores. The pre-cut is often seedless, making it a lot more convenient. I almost always grab this. I love that it’s seedless.

Pre-cut is usually more expensive than buying a whole watermelon. Keep in mind that pre-cut fruit can lose its texture and flavor more quickly due to exposure to air. If you grab this be sure to use it quickly after purchasing.

If you’re going to grab a whole watermelon, choose one that is ripe. A ripe watermelon will be heavy for its size and have a deep, hollow sound when you thump it. Look for one that is uniform in shape. Irregular bumps or indentations may indicate that the watermelon didn’t grow evenly and may not be as sweet.

Avoid watermelons with bruises, cuts, or dents. These are signs that the watermelon is not fresh. Check the field spot. The field spot is the area of the watermelon where it was resting on the ground. It should be a creamy yellow color, indicating that the watermelon is ripe. If the field spot is white or green, the watermelon may be underripe.

diced watermelon, sliced strawberries, and a lime in separate glass bowls

How to Prep the Fruit

If you’re using a whole one, you will need to prep it first. You will need:

  • A ripe watermelon
  • A sharp knife
  • A cutting board
  1. Wash the watermelon thoroughly.
  2. Use a sharp knife to cut it in half.
  3. Scoop out the flesh of the watermelon, being careful to remove all of the seeds. Use a large spoon or melon baller to remove the flesh, being careful not to puncture the rind.
  4. Cut the watermelon into bite-sized pieces (small cubes or balls).

Key Ingredients for the Salad

  • Watermelon
  • Strawberries
  • Feta Cheese
  • Fresh Basil
  • Cucumbers
  • Red Onions
red onions, feta, cucumbers, and fresh basil in separate glass bowls

Salad Dressing

  • Lime Juice
  • Balsamic Vinegar
  • Olive Oil
olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and lime juice in a white bowl

How to Make Watermelon Salad with Feta and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  1. Combine watermelon, feta cheese, strawberries, fresh basil, cucumbers, and red onions in a bowl.
  2. Combine lime juice, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil.
  3. Drizzle it over the salad.
  4. Chill.
watermelon salad with feta, cucumbers, avocado, basil, strawberries, onion, and balsamic lime dressing in a glass bowl

Other Topping Ideas and Substitutions

  • Fresh Mint
  • Arugula
  • Spinach
  • Cantaloupe
  • Honeydew
  • Grapes
  • Blueberries
  • Tomatoes
  • Grilled Shrimp
  • Chicken
  • Halloumi Cheese
  • Pine Nuts
  • Corn/Grilled Corn
watermelon salad with feta, cucumbers, avocado, basil, strawberries, onion, and balsamic lime dressing in a glass bowl drizzled with balsamic dressing

More Salad Dressing Options

  • Honey Lime Dressing: Made with honey, lime juice, olive oil, and salt. It is a light and refreshing dressing that pairs well.
  • Raspberry Vinaigrette: This dressing is made with raspberries, vinegar, olive oil, and sugar. It is a sweet and tangy dressing that pairs well with the sweetness of the salad.
  • Greek Yogurt Dressing: Light and refreshing flavor that pairs well; it also adds a boost of protein.
  • Poppy seed dressing: Sweet and tangy; works well with fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and mandarins.
  • Mint dressing: Made with fresh mint leaves and super refreshing.

Chilling

I recommend chilling the salad before serving because it will help to enhance the flavor and texture of the ingredients and make it more refreshing to eat, especially during warm weather. You can chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

watermelon salad with feta, basil, cucumbers, avocado, strawberries, onion, and balsamic lime dressing in a white bowl

How to Prevent Browning

When salads turn brown it’s due to oxidation, which occurs when the cut surface of the watermelon is exposed to air. Here are some tips to prevent it:

  • Use fresh watermelon. Watermelon that is overripe will brown more quickly.
  • Cut the watermelon into small cubes. The smaller the pieces, the less surface area there is for the watermelon to brown.
  • Use lemon or lime juice. I use lime juice in the salad dressing because the juice contains ascorbic acid, also known as Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that helps to slow down the enzymatic browning process that occurs when fruits and vegetables are exposed to oxygen.
  • Use olive oil. This is used in the dressing and will help to seal in the moisture.
  • Use vinegar. The balsamic vinegar works similarly to the lime/lemon.
  • Store the salad in an airtight container. This will help to prevent the watermelon from coming into contact with air.
  • Eat the salad as soon as possible. Watermelon will brown more quickly the longer it sits out.

How to Store/How Long it Will Last

Store leftovers in the fridge tightly covered and sealed for up to 3 days. After 3 days, the watermelon salad may start to lose its freshness and texture. It is best to eat it within 24 hours of making it.

If you store the salad in an airtight container with paper towels, it will last longer. Avoid leaving the salad at room temperature for more than two hours, as bacteria can grow rapidly at warm temperatures.

Keep in mind some fruits, such as bananas and apples, tend to brown quickly when cut and exposed to air. Because the fruit is served with dressing, the longer you take to eat it, the more risk you have the fruit will get soggy.

I like to drain excess dressing for this reason. Once you coat the fruit in dressing and refrigerate for 30 minutes, it will soak up the balsamic flavor.

watermelon salad with feta, basil, cucumbers, avocado, strawberries, onion, and balsamic lime dressing in a white bowl

Frozen Fruit

You can use frozen fruit if you thaw it first. Be sure to drain any excess water. Keep in mind frozen fruit is often softer than fresh and may go bad quicker.

More Fruit Salad and Salad Recipes

Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
Mango Fruit Salad
Southwest Chicken Salad

Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese
Grilled Shrimp Salad

Pair With These Recipes

How to Grill Chicken Wings
Blackened Catfish
Chipotle Pollo Asado
Slow Cooker Crockpot Chicken Wings
Slow Cooker Crockpot BBQ Meatballs

More Watermelon Recipes

Watermelon Lemonade
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
Watermelon Margarita on the Rocks
Watermelon Water

watermelon salad with feta, basil, cucumbers, avocado, strawberries, onion, and balsamic lime dressing in a white bowl
Print Pin
5 from 3 votes

Watermelon Salad with Feta and Balsamic Vinaigrette

This Watermelon Salad is a refreshing and satisfying dish that perfectly balances sweet and savory flavors. The juicy watermelon chunks are paired with tangy crumbles of feta cheese, avocado, cucumbers, and basil. The salad is then drizzled with a balsamic lime dressing that adds a zesty kick and a touch of acidity, bringing all the flavors together.
Save this recipe here.
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword watermelon cucumber salad, watermelon salad, watermelon salad with balsamic vinegar, watermelon salad with basil, watermelon salad with feta
Prep Time 20 minutes
chilling 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 5 cups
Calories 118kcal

Ingredients

  • 2-3 cups diced watermelon Cut into 1 to 2 inch chunks.
  • 1 cup strawberries Sliced
  • 1 cup diced cucumbers
  • 1/4 cup diced avocado
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/4 cup sliced onions I used red onions.
  • 2-3 fresh basil leaves Chiffonade (shredded/finely cut)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice This was the juice of 1 lime for me.
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2-1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar Start with 1/2 tablespoon and add more if you need it.

Instructions

  • Add all of the fruit/vegetables to a large bowl.
  • Combine the dressing in a separate bowl. Taste the dressing repeatedly and make adjustments as necessary. Drizzle the dressing over the fruit.
  • Serve immediately or chilled for 30 minutes.

Notes

Make this salad your dish. Add more/use less/omit whatever you like to suit your taste.
You can add salt and pepper to the salad if you want a more savory flavor.
I used fresh fruit in this recipe.
Olive oil is used because it will smooth out the dressing and make it easier to coat the fruit. You will taste some hints of the oil. Omit it if you wish.
Feel free to add more dressing to the salad to suit your taste and desired texture.
You can use any of your favorite fruit or vegetables in this salad.
Keep in mind some fruits, such as bananas and apples, tend to brown quickly when cut and exposed to air. Because the fruit is served with dressing, the longer you take to eat it, the more risk you have the fruit will get soggy. I like to drain excess dressing for this reason. Once you coat the fruit in dressing and refrigerate for 30 minutes, it will soak up the balsamic flavor. 
Recipe Tools Used in this RecipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g
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Nutrition DataMacros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
5 from 3 votes
Recipe Rating




Jill

Wednesday 26th of July 2023

I love watermelon so I had to try this. All of these different flavors come together to make a great salad. Very refreshing for a hot day.

staysnatched

Thursday 27th of July 2023

So refreshing!

Jill

Monday 10th of July 2023

I love watermelon. So when I saw this recipe I knew I had to make it. I love how it mixes up the use of watermelon. This salad has is a great balance of sweetness and tartness.

staysnatched

Monday 10th of July 2023

Yay! Best part about it.

Kristin

Wednesday 10th of May 2023

Feta with watermelon?!? I never would have imagined how good this would taste?

staysnatched

Thursday 11th of May 2023

Yay! Glad you enjoyed it.