Watermelon cucumber salad with feta is a simple and delicious salad that’s perfect for hot summer days when you want something light and refreshing. With its combination of sweet watermelon, crunchy cucumber, savory feta, fresh herbs and tangy dressing. Similar to our watermelon arugula salad, this is sure to be a hit with everyone.
Watermelon Feta Salad With Cucumbers
Watermelon cucumber salad is a refreshing summer salad that is perfect for hot days. This delicious summer salad is easy to make and is a great way to use up any leftover watermelon.
Watermelon recipes like this one are perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner. It’s also a great side dish for a summer barbecue or picnic with sweet and salty flavors. Serve it with our easy balsamic dressing or try one of our six healthy salad dressings.
The best part? It’s super easy to make. You don’t need any special cooking skills or equipment. Just a knife, a cutting board, and a bowl.
Recipe Ingredients
The sweet and juicy watermelon is the star of the show in this salad. It provides a refreshing and hydrating base for the other ingredients. The cucumber adds a nice crunch and freshness to the salad, while the salty feta cheese balances out the sweetness of the watermelon.
Here’s an overview of what you’ll need to make this delicious watermelon cucumber salad. See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredients details.
- WATERMELON – You’ll need a ripe watermelon that has been cut into small cubes. If you don’t want to use watermelon, you can substitute it with honeydew or cantaloupe.
- ENGLISH CUCUMBERS – Persian cucumbers or English cucumbers are long and slender with thin skin. They are perfect for this salad because they have fewer seeds and are less bitter than regular cucumbers. If you use regular cucumbers, try to remove as many seeds as possible.
- RED ONION – Thinly sliced red onion adds a nice crunch and a bit of sharpness to the salad. If you don’t like red onion, you can skip it or substitute it with sliced shallots or scallions.
- FETA CHEESE – Crumbled creamy feta cheese adds a salty and flavor (like our asparagus tomato feta salad). It tastes amazing with the sweetness of watermelon! If you don’t like feta cheese, you can substitute it with goat cheese or blue cheese.
- OLIVE OIL – Extra virgin olive oil is used to make the dressing. You can substitute it with any other neutral oil like canola, avocado oil, or vegetable oil.
- BALSAMIC VINEGAR – Balsamic vinegar is used to make the dressing. You can substitute it with red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- CHOPPED MINT – Fresh mint leaves add a refreshing and cooling flavor.
- CHOPPED BASIL – Fresh basil leaves add a sweet and slightly spicy flavor. If you don’t have basil, you can substitute it with cilantro or dill.
- SALT AND PEPPER – Salt and pepper are used to season.
To make this salad, start by cutting up some watermelon and cucumbers into bite-sized pieces. Then, mix them together in a bowl with some feta cheese, basil, and mint leaves. Drizzle on the olive oil and balsamic dressing, and you’re done!
With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a dish that is both healthy and satisfying.
How To Make Watermelon Cucumber Salad
Making cucumber and watermelon salad is quick and easy. You only need a few ingredients and a large bowl to toss everything together.
Here’s an overview with the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post:
- PREPARE DRESSING – In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, chopped basil, chopped mint, salt, and black pepper to create a dressing. Set aside until ready to serve the salad.
- CHOP THE WATERMELON AND CUCUMBERS – Cut the watermelon into bite-sized cubes and slice the cucumbers into rounds, and then into quarters. Add everything to a large bowl.
- ADD THE DRESSING – Drizzle the dressing on top of the salad. Gently Toss everything together to ensure that the dressing is evenly distributed.
- ADD THE FETA – Crumble feta cheese and sprinkle it on top of the salad.
- SERVE IMMEDIATELY – Enjoy your watermelon cucumber salad immediately after making it. It is best served cold and fresh.
Variations
Experiment with different combinations to find your favorite variation of this refreshing salad. Here are a few ingredients to try:
- BABY SPINACH – For an extra boost of greens, add a handful of baby spinach. It pairs well with the sweetness of the watermelon and the crunch of the cucumber.
- ARUGULA – The peppery and slightly bitter arugula leaves provide a nice contrast to the sweet watermelon.
- CREAMY AVOCADO – For a creamier texture, add diced avocado.
- LIME JUICE – For some extra zing, squeeze some lime juice over the salad. It adds a nice acidity and freshness.
- GRILLED CHICKEN – Add some protein like grilled chicken. It’s a great way to turn watermelon salad into a filling and satisfying meal.
- QUINOA – Cooked quinoa is another great addition to make this more filling. It has a neutral flavor that goes with almost anything. Simply sprinkle in 1/2 cup or 1 cup depending on preference.
Can You Store Leftovers?
This salad will only last for a few days in the fridge. Here’s how to store it:
FRIDGE – The salad should be kept cold in the fridge until ready to serve. Once refrigerated, the salad will keep for up to 4 days, but it really tastes best served fresh. Store it in an airtight container to prevent the watermelon and cucumber from drying out.
If you’re planning on eating the leftovers, you may want to consider keeping the dressing separate until you’re ready to eat. You can store the dressing in a separate container and add it to the salad when you’re ready to eat.
Recipe Tips
Here are some tips to help you make the perfect watermelon cucumber salad:
- CHOOSE RIPE WATERMELON – When selecting a watermelon, look for one that is heavy for its size, has a uniform shape, and a dull skin with a creamy yellow spot where it rested on the ground. A ripe watermelon will have a sweet fragrance.
- CUT THE WATERMELON INTO SMALL CUBES – To make the salad easier to eat, cut the watermelon into small, bite-sized cubes. This will also help the watermelon absorb the flavors of the dressing ingredients.
- REMOVE THE SEEDS – If your watermelon has seeds, remove as many as you can before chopping and adding them to the salad. You can also use a seedless watermelon to save time.
- USE FRESH CUCUMBERS – For the best flavor, look for cucumbers that are firm, with a bright green color and no soft spots.
- SERVE COLD – This salad is best served cold, so keep it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. You can also serve it in a chilled bowl or on a bed of ice to help keep it cool.
Watermelon cucumber salad is a refreshing and healthy dish that is perfect for summer. It is a great side dish for any meal or a light lunch on its own. With its sweet and tangy flavors, it is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at any gathering.
More Summer Salad Recipes
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Corn Tomato Avocado Salad
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Quinoa Salad
- Broccoli Crunch Salad
- Chicken Pineapple Rice Salad
Watermelon Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups cubed watermelon - use seedless watermelon if possible
- 1 english cucumbers - approximately 3 cups, sliced then quartered
- ½ cup red onion - sliced thin
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp chopped mint
- 2 Tbsp fresh basil
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prep the salad ingredients. Slice the watermelon into small cubes, the cucumber in to quarters, slice red onion into thin strips and crumble the feta.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic, mint, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Add the watermelon, cucumber, feta, and red onion to a bowl and gently mix together. Pour salad dressing overtop and gently mix together.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.