This watermelon arugula salad is cold, salty, and sweet. Layer peppery arugula with chilled watermelon, cubed feta, and thinly sliced red onion, then drizzle everything with a quick lime vinaigrette. It's the perfect side for grilled meat and fish on a hot summer day.
Quick Look: Watermelon Arugula Salad with Feta Cheese
- Taste: Fresh, sweet, salty, and peppery, with a bright lime vinaigrette.
- Servings: 4
- Total time: 10 minutes
- Main ingredients: Watermelon, arugula, feta cheese, red onion, lime, and olive oil.
- Tools needed: Cutting board, sharp knife, small bowl, whisk, and serving platter.
- Why you'll love it: This delicious salad is salty, sweet, and savory all in one bowl, with juicy watermelon, peppery arugula, creamy feta, and a bright lime vinaigrette. It's colorful, refreshing, and ready in just 10 minutes.
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The Best Watermelon Salad
We've had watermelon salad with feta on repeat all summer. It's light, refreshing, and takes just a few minutes to pull together.
When friends and family come over, I like to serve something a little unexpected.
This salad fits the bill perfectly. The colors are beautiful and it screams summer.
Sweet watermelon, salty feta, and peppery arugula are a perfect trio. A lime vinaigrette ties everything together.
We live in the Florida Keys, and when it's summer, it's hot. Today hit 95 degrees, so I kept the cooking light. We enjoyed this salad with boiled spiny lobster, steamed shrimp, and asparagus rice.
It was the perfect light dinner for a steamy night.
Ingredients
See recipe card below for exact amounts and instructions.
For The Salad:
- Watermelon: Choose a ripe, seedless watermelon that feels heavy for its size. Chill it before cutting so the salad is cold and refreshing.
- Arugula: Its peppery flavor balances the sweetness of the watermelon. Baby arugula is especially tender.
- Feta cheese: Salty, tangy feta gives the salad richness and contrast. Buy a block packed in brine and cube it yourself for the best texture.
- Red onion: Thin slices add color, crunch, and a sharp bite. If the onion is strong, soak the slices in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain.
- Black pepper: Freshly cracked pepper brings out the sweetness of the fruit and complements the salty feta.
Lime Vinaigrette:
- Extra-virgin olive oil: Use a good-quality olive oil with a mild, fruity flavor.
- Fresh lime juice: Bright acidity balances the sweet watermelon and salty cheese. Freshly squeezed juice tastes best.
- Garlic: One small clove adds savory flavor without overpowering the fruit.
- Honey: A small amount softens the lime's acidity and helps the dressing come together.
- Salt: Enhances the lime dressing, but use a light hand because feta is already salty.
How To Make Watermelon Salad with Feta
In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, garlic, honey, and salt.
Dice the watermelon and cube the feta cheese. The feta doesn't need to be cut perfectly. Add any crumbled pieces to the salad too.
In a large salad bowl or platter, add the arugula, then top with watermelon, red onion, and feta.
Lightly drizzle with the dressing just before serving. Season with freshly ground black pepper.
Note: I don't toss the salad. There's just a light drizzle of dressing over the top. It's meant to add a hint of flavor without soaking the greens.
Additional Add-Ins
- Fresh mint or basil leaves
- Toasted thinly sliced almonds or chopped pistachios
- Sliced avocado
- Diced cucumber
- A sprinkle of chili flakes or Tajin seasoning
Variations
- Fruit: Swap watermelon for strawberries, mango, peach, cantaloupe, or pineapple. Choose fruit that's sweet, firm, and not too juicy so it holds up in the salad.
- Arugula: If you don't have arugula, try baby spinach, spring mix, or chopped romaine. In my sweet potato and arugula salad, I mix arugula and chopped romaine lettuce for a little extra crunch.
- Cheese: Feta is classic, but goat cheese, fresh tiny balls of mozzarella called ciliegine, or shaved Parmesan work just as well.
- Citrus: Lemon juice or key lime juice can be used in place of regular lime in the dressing.
Storage
Watermelon is mostly water and will release liquid as it sits, which can make the arugula soggy.
If you're making it ahead, keep the dressing, watermelon, and feta separate until you're ready to serve.
What Goes with Watermelon Arugula Salad?
This refreshing salad pairs especially well with fish, chicken, or steak. Serve it with one of these easy main dishes:
- Seafood: Steamed shrimp, roasted swordfish, or pan-seared snapper fillets.
- Chicken: Pan-seared chicken breasts or crispy chicken cutlets.
- Steak: Seared New York strip steak.
FAQ
Yes, but keep the dressing, watermelon, and feta separate until just before serving so the arugula doesn't wilt.
Try strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches, nectarines, mango, or pineapple. Just make sure the fruit is ripe.
Fresh lime juice is best for flavor, but bottled works in a pinch. You can also use lemon or key lime juice.
Grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, or white fish like snapper or mahi mahi all work well.
Of course. Double the dressing if you serve it on the side, since guests may use more than you would drizzle over the salad.
Watermelon Arugula Salad with Feta
Ingredients
Lime Vinaigrette
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- juice of 1 lime
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
Salad
- 5 ounce box of fresh arugula
- 6 ounces feta cheese, cubed
- 4 cups diced watermelon
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, garlic, honey, and salt.
- Dice the watermelon and cube the feta cheese.
- In a large salad bowl or platter, add the arugula, then top with watermelon, red onion, and feta.
- Lightly drizzle with the dressing just before serving. Season with freshly ground black pepper.
JD Varne says
Thank you for sharing!