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    Recipes » Salad Recipes

    Watermelon and Arugula Salad with Feta

    Published: Aug 31, 2020 by Marissa Stevens · 31 Comments

    Gluten FreeLow CarbVegetarian

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Watermelon and Arugula Salad served on a white plate

    Watermelon and Arugula Salad is a delicious blend of sweet watermelon, peppery arugula and creamy feta cheese. It's drizzled with an addictive dressing of fresh lime juice, Champagne vinegar and buttery olive oil with a gentle jalapeño kick, that's so good you're going to want to put it on everything!

    watermelon and arugula salad with feta served in a white ceramic bowl

    It feels wrong to admit that watermelon isn’t my favorite. Growing up, I remember looking around at other kids blissfully devouring huge wedges of it – lifting their dripping faces now and then to spew little black seeds. It baffled me. And it wasn't the dripping and seed spitting I was opposed to, I didn't especially like the flavor. To me it tasted - still does - like sugar water.  But a big wedge of cantaloupe or honeydew melon, that's a bliss I understand. They're sweet, yes, but they burst with that unique, 'melony' flavor. Watermelon, not so much.

    Watermelon and Arugula Salad with Feta Cheese in a ceramic bowl photographed from above

    Today, though, I'm excited to report that I've been redeemed. It turns out that I like watermelon - a lot actually - when it's combined with other flavors that I love. Its watery, cool sweetness is the perfect foundation, and a critical element, to one of the better summer salads I've ever had.

    I must give a nod to Hermiston farmers here - they grow a mean melon. Even watermelon, even seedless watermelon (which I've always heard has less flavor than its seed-filled counterpart). Maybe if I'd grown up in Eastern Oregon and had this Watermelon and Arugula Salad early on, it wouldn't have taken me four decades to find a place in my heart for this much-beloved summer fruit.

    Recipe Options

    • Add a little extra heat with some thinly sliced red onion.
    • Use goat cheese or shaved parmesan in place of the feta.
    • Add several leaves of fresh mint along with the arugula for added flavor depth.

    What to Serve with Watermelon and Arugula Salad

    This salad is hearty enough to be a meal on it's own and a perfect pair to so many summer main dishes. Especially anything you are grilling like: Carne Asada, Grilled Lamb Chops, Grilled Swordfish, Grilled Shrimp, Chicken Kabobs or Lamb Kabobs! (And, for summer pairing, this simple Arugula Salad is also a must try!)

    Watermelon and Arugula Salad with Feta Cheese served in a white ceramic bowl

    Watermelon and Arugula Salad

    Marissa Stevens
    Even if you’re not a big watermelon fan, please give this a try. The sweet watermelon, peppery arugula, salty feta, and little jalapeño kick combine for a flavor far above the sum of the parts.
    5 from 5 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 328 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For the jalapeño chile vinaigrette:

    • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice juice of 1 whole lime
    • 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
    • ½ small jalapeño seeded and finely chopped
    • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
    • ½ cup olive oil
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

    For the Watermelon and Arugula salad:

    • ½ small seedless watermelon 'small' is a 5-6 pound watermelon, see recipe notes
    • 5 ounces baby arugula
    • 4 ounces feta cut into ¼-inch squares or crumbled
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • To make the vinaigrette: Combine lime juice, vinegar, shallot, jalapeño and thyme leaves to a blender pitcher and blend until smooth, scrape down sides as necessary. With the blender running, add oil in a steady stream and blend until smooth. Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Transfer to small pitcher for drizzling. 
    • For the salad: arrange watermelon, arugula and feta on a serving platter or individual plates. Drizzle salad with desired amount of vinaigrette. Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve.

    Notes

    According to the Watermelon Board, the average size of a watermelon is 15-20 pounds, but often you can find small seedless watermelons in the grocery store - in the 5-6 pound range. You'll need ½ of a small or a ¼ of a large watermelon for this recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 328kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 5gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 327mgPotassium: 148mgSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1010IUVitamin C: 9.2mgCalcium: 201mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

    More Salad Recipes

    • Pulled Pork Salad
    • Caesar Salad
    • Classic Wedge Salad
    • Crab Salad

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. mimi rippee says

      September 05, 2020 at 12:53 pm

      This is fantastic. It's incredible how many variations there of of watermelon and cheese salads, and even watermelon and arugula salads there are. Cause they're all amazing!!! And I love this one - simple but full of flavors.

      Reply
    2. Valentina says

      September 01, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      5 stars
      I've always loved a bit of heat with watermelon. The sweet is just so good with the spicy! This salad is amazing and so beautiful. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 02, 2020 at 11:56 am

        Thank you so much, Valentina!

        Reply
    3. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

      September 01, 2020 at 1:53 pm

      5 stars
      I've always loved watermelon Marissa. Glad you've come around. This salad looks totally refreshing and just perfect for summer! Love the feta watermelon combination.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 02, 2020 at 11:56 am

        haha..finally, right!? Thanks, Mary Ann.

        Reply
    4. David @ Spiced says

      September 01, 2020 at 4:09 am

      5 stars
      There are plenty of foods that fall into that category for me, too, Marissa. Glad you discovered this recipe...it sounds delicious! I have to admit that I haven't played around much with watermelon in savory salads. However, the combination of ingredients here sounds delicious. We have watermelon in the fridge right now, so I might just need to grab some feta and try it out!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        September 01, 2020 at 9:19 am

        I hope you'll give this one a try, David!

        Reply
    5. Kevin O'Leary says

      June 27, 2018 at 8:13 am

      Watermelon and feta are one of my favorite combinations! What a great salad to enjoy throughout the summer.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        June 27, 2018 at 11:23 am

        Thanks, my friend!

        Reply
    6. sherry says

      June 27, 2018 at 5:21 am

      yum i do love watermelon and it is great in a salad. pairs so well with fetta and black olives for instance. cheers sherry

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        June 27, 2018 at 8:10 am

        Thanks, Sherry!

        Reply
    7. Sabrina says

      June 26, 2018 at 6:43 am

      Watermelon and feta are such a perfect combination. Love your salad dressing too!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        June 26, 2018 at 3:06 pm

        Definitely a winning combo! Thank you, Sabrina!

        Reply
    8. Ben|Havocinthekitchen says

      June 25, 2018 at 7:22 pm

      5 stars
      Glad that you and watermelons are becoming good friends now, even if you like them only in salads! I've been a huge fan of watermelon salads for many years now; it's always good, refreshing, and light. Love this version too.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        June 26, 2018 at 3:07 pm

        Yes, finally friends! 😉 Thanks so much, Ben!

        Reply
    9. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

      June 25, 2018 at 3:45 pm

      So many people I know don’t care for watermelon so you’re not alone! I love it, and it would be so good paired in a salad like this! That vinaigrette sounds amazing!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        June 26, 2018 at 3:09 pm

        How funny...I guess I just assumed that everyone loved it! 🙂 I'm so glad that I discovered I could love it in the right combo!! Thanks so much, my friend!

        Reply
    10. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      June 25, 2018 at 3:33 pm

      5 stars
      What a beautiful salad, Marissa!! I didn't eat a lot of watermelon growing up...and really not a lot now, but put it in a salad like this and I could eat the whole thing by myself. Love this one!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        June 26, 2018 at 3:09 pm

        Thank you so much, Dawn!

        Reply
    11. kale says

      August 31, 2012 at 1:30 pm

      Such a beautiful salad. I love this classic flavor combination. The presentation is lovely.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        September 03, 2012 at 10:05 am

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    12. Lemon says

      August 31, 2012 at 1:01 am

      I am a big fan of watermelons, your salad looks great. Reading through the ingredients make me feel like this recipe brings together a lot of great tastes, lovely.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        September 03, 2012 at 10:04 am

        Thank you - it really is a nice combination.

        Reply
    13. Giovanna says

      August 28, 2012 at 6:39 am

      I've never tried watermelon in salad, but this time i'll do !!!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        September 03, 2012 at 10:03 am

        I imagine you get some delicious melons in Italy. I'm still dreaming of the tomatoes we had when we were there...

        Reply
    14. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

      August 27, 2012 at 7:55 am

      What a delightful and delicious salad!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        September 03, 2012 at 10:02 am

        Thank you...

        Reply
    15. Eileen says

      August 26, 2012 at 7:37 pm

      Well, watermelon isn't my favorite either, so at least you're not alone! That said, it does sound pretty great in a savory salad application. 🙂

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        September 03, 2012 at 10:02 am

        It's amazing what adding a little salt and kick can do for it. 🙂

        Reply
    16. Lorraine @ Not Quite NIgella says

      August 26, 2012 at 5:29 pm

      I love watermelon in savoury salads too! 🙂 I actually dried watermelon strips yesterday! They were so interesting! 😮

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        September 03, 2012 at 10:01 am

        I'd love to try that - I've never heard of drying watermelon.

        Reply

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