This watermelon arugula salad is cold, salty, and sweet. Just toss arugula with chilled watermelon, crumbled feta, sliced red onions, and a quick lime vinaigrette. It's the perfect side for grilled meat and fish on a hot summer day.
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Watermelon Arugula Salad with Feta is a quick summer side dish. It's made with fresh arugula, juicy watermelon, crumbled feta, and a tangy lime vinaigrette. Light, sweet, and salty. Ready in 10 minutes with no cooking needed.
The Best Summer 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, asparagus rice, and a side of sautéed fresh zucchini. It was the perfect light dinner for a steamy night.
Ingredients
Salad:
- Arugula
- Feta cheese, diced
- Diced watermelon
- Thinly sliced red onion
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Lime Vinaigrette:
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Lime juice
- Garlic
- Honey
- Salt
Recipe For Watermelon Salad with Feta
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, garlic, honey, and salt.
- Dice the watermelon and feta cheese.
- In a large salad bowl or platter, add the arugula, then top with watermelon, red onion, and feta.
- Drizzle with dressing just before serving.
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 salad pairs well with just about anything off the grill. Here are a few ideas:
- Pan-seared mahi, roasted swordfish, or grilled grouper collar
- Grill pan chicken breasts
- Sliced steak
- Shrimp skewers or grilled shrimp
- Turkey burgers or salmon burgers
- Zucchini frittata for a light lunch
- Toasted sourdough or a slice of crusty bread on the side
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. Just double the dressing if you do, guests tend to pour more than you would if tossing it yourself.
Watermelon Arugula Salad with Feta
Ingredients
Lime Vinaigrette (makes ¼ cup)
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- juice of 1 lime
- 1 small minced garlic clove
- 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 feta cheese.
- In a large salad bowl or platter, add the arugula, then top with watermelon, red onion, and feta.
- Drizzle with dressing. Season with freshly ground black pepper.
JD Varne says
Thank you for sharing!