Watermelon Arugula Salad with Feta is a great summertime choice that is quick and easy to throw together. A refreshing side dish with a variety of flavors that enhance the overall taste. The tanginess of feta cheese and the sweet-piquant taste of the pickled red onions pair perfectly with the watermelon, arugula and mint. To top it all off, drizzle a simple white balsamic vinegar and poppyseed dressing.
The essence of Summer is found during a Saturday morning farmer’s market where colorful vegetables and fruits are displayed in an artistic fashion. Where else can you go and pick out a bouquet of flowers then meander a few steps to consume a whole roasted turkey leg? I've been mesmerized as I watched a young woman play her heart out on a violin or listened to a family sing together with a harmony that sent chills up my spine.
I have my favorite vendors at the market. One table, in particular, is an Amish family that (of course) has the most wonderful baked goods available. But the reason I return time and again is a most adorable little baby sitting on their table, cooing, laughing and beckoning those of us to come and buy. It works. That little cutie pie is the best advertisement I've seen to date.
One of my favorite things to take home on these Saturday morning outings is a big, red, luscious watermelon. It's one of the main reasons I show up at the market every week. This past excursion resulted in a lovely Watermelon Arugula Salad with Feta and Mint which has literally become one of my favorite summer dishes. Once you give it a try, I think you'll come to the same conclusion.
How to make this Salad
Three Secrets to Choosing a Ripe Watermelon
- Look for a yellow "field spot." A yellow spot from where it rested on the ground is probably the best indication that the watermelon is ripe. It demonstrates that the melon was sitting in the field longer while ripening on the vine. If the spot is white, it has not fully matured yet.
- Whether it's large or small, it should feel heavy for its size. This usually means it's full of water and will be juicier when you slice it open.
- Give it a thump with your knuckles. A ripe watermelon should have a deep, hollow sound when thumped. If it is under or over-ripened the sound will be dull.
Ingredients for this Watermelon Salad with Feta:
Arugula. I chose arugula because it adds pungent flavor with a peppery overtone which blends nicely with the other ingredients. Also, a few perks that come with this green leafy package are the vital nutrients it brings to the table as well as being low in calories and carbs.
Cubed Watermelon. Choosing a seedless watermelon is the best way to alleviate those pesky seeds while you're trying to eat the salad. They're great if you want to have a seed-spitting contest, but other than that, they're quite annoying.
Feta Cheese. These salty cubes of goodness make for the perfect combination to complement the sweet and juicy watermelon. Also, I love the presentation it gives with the white popping from the red watermelon background. So beautiful.
Pickled Red Onion. These are the secret ingredient that adds a sweet yet tangy soft crunch to the Salad. It's such a nice bonus to the dish.
Fresh Mint. A subtle surprise hidden in the crevices of the salad releases a lovely mint flavor throughout. It's amazing how the flavors of all these ingredients come together to create a refreshing summer side dish.
The Dressing
Poppyseed and White Balsamic Vinegar Dressing. Here, you'll find another super simple recipe that works well with a variety of salads but in particular with this Watermelon Salad. You can mix it together in no time! I combine two-part poppy seed dressing and one-part balsamic vinegar. Either white or regular balsamic vinegar adds a nice tartness to the finished dressing.
What Variations Work with This Watermelon Arugula Salad?
Greens - Any hearty green that doesn't wilt easily works great in here, spinach especially.
Cheeses - Feta is probably the most popular cheese to add because it is so durable. But goat cheese, mozzarella, or blue cheese would be fabulous.
Different Fruits - Add a handful of blueberries in with the watermelon or even some cantaloupe or grapes.
Nuts - Glazed pecans or walnuts would add a nice crunch to this watermelon salad.
Protein - throw in some shredded chicken to make it a full meal.
Onions - If you're not a fan of pickled onions, slice up some red onion and add it in.
Can this Salad be made ahead of time?
You can make it a day ahead of time but hold off on the arugula greens and the dressing just until ready to serve. If you want to save even more time, grab a pre-cut watermelon out of the produce section of your grocery store.
Oh my goodness! I think I could eat this salad every day for the entire summer. I love how crisp and fresh it is with chunky cubes of feta cheese and watermelon. It really is a mouthful of deliciousness. Hope you enjoy!
If you love salads, check out some of my other recipes:
Fresh Peach Salad with Arugula
Blood Orange Arugula Salad
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PrintWatermelon Arugula Salad
Quick and Easy Pickled Red OnionsThis salad is light and fresh with a tanginess from the pickled onions. When you add mint and feta, there is an explosion of flavors that will leave you wanting more.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 6 cups packed Arugula, washed and spun dried
- 4 tablespoons Poppy Seed Salad Dressing (store-bought)
- 2 tablespoons White Balsamic Vinegar
- 3 cups Seedless Watermelon, cut in 1-inch cubes
- 6 oz Feta Cheese, cut in 1-inch cubes
- ¼ cup Pickled Red Onions
- 1 oz Mint Leaves (about one cup), julienne
Instructions
- Wash and spin dry the arugula.
- In a small bowl whisk 4 tablespoons poppy seed dressing and 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar.
- In a large bowl, lightly toss the 6 cups packed arugula with half the salad dressing mixture.
- Top the arugula with 3 cups cubed watermelon, 6 ounces cubed feta cheese, ¼ cup pickled onions and 1 ounce julienned mint leaves.
- Gently toss again and drizzle the remaining dressing on top.
- Serve immediately as the arugula will begin to wilt if it sits on the salad too long.
- ENJOY!!
Notes
- Three Secrets to Choosing a Ripe Watermelon
- Look for a yellow "field spot." A yellow spot from where it rested on the ground is probably the best indication that the watermelon is ripe. It demonstrates that the melon was sitting in the field longer while ripening on the vine. If the spot is white, it has not fully matured yet.
- Whether it's large or small, it should feel heavy for its size. This usually means it's full of water and will be juicier when you slice it open.
- Give it a thump with your knuckles. A ripe watermelon should have a deep, hollow sound when thumped. If it is under or over-ripened the sound will be dull.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅙ of Salad
- Calories: 203
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 469 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Keywords: watermelon arugula salad, watermelon salad with Feta, watermelon feta salad arugula, watermelon salad recipe
Eric says
The ingredients in this salad are simple but I'm sure the flavors are amazing together.
★★★★★
Olivia Fleming says
This is so refreshing! The pickled onions give a great crunch to the salad and the saltiness of the feta cheese goes so well with the sweetness of the watermelon and the dressing!
★★★★★
Kristy Murray says
Thanks so much Olivia. I'm so happy that you enjoyed this salad. I do agree it is such a refreshing one, especially for the summer months. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
Carrie Tyler says
Some of my favorite flavors right here! I love that you added pickled onions to this salad too to bring the tart and tang, delicious!
★★★★★
Niki says
This looks amazing! I can't wait to try it. What a perfect recipe for summertime!
Kristy Murray says
Awwww thanks, Niki. It really is a refreshing and light salad for summer. Hope you love it as much as I do.
mimi rippee says
This is just gorgeous! I mean, seriously!!! Such flavors. I don't like poppy seed dressing. Even home-made, it has like 2 cups of sugar in it. So I can see why you just used a small amount. Anyway, excited to make this!
Kristy Murray says
Awww Mimi, thank you so much. I do understand your concern about the sugar. But the poppy seed with the balsamic vinegar is such a perfect combination for the other ingredients.
Katerina says
I love this combination of flavours and often crave this during summer - the fresh juicy watermelon with the creaminess of feta and the greens is just SUCH a fabulous meal. My kids love this salad as well - they would eat watermelon with every meal if they could! I love the addition of pickled onions here, Kristy, I bet they take it to the next level. Yummm!
★★★★★
Kristy Murray says
Thanks so much Katerina. I totally agree about how wonderfully the ingredients work together. I'm like your kids as well. I would eat watermelon for every meal as well. Hope you and your family are staying safe.
Lori says
I LOVED this salad and it was super easy to throw together. I served it as a side dish at a dinner party over the weekend and it was the talk of the table. There are so many flavors that blend together so perfectly for a nice refreshing, tangy, sweet salad. I would never have thought to put this together on my own, but that’s why I love your blog. So many great ideas. Great job Kristy! Can’t wait to find more delicious recipes.
★★★★★
Kristy Murray says
Thank you so much! You're very kind Lori. I'm thrilled you and your guests loved the salad and that it was a hit at your dinner party. It's always nice to find simple recipes that work so well. I so appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment.
Jill says
Wow! The pickled onions are such a fabulous addition to a watermelon salad. Love the mint flavor and it's absolutely beautiful to serve! Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Kristy Murray says
Oh thanks so much Jill. It's a great Spring recipe and how can you possibly go wrong with pickled onions?
David @ Spiced says
I love arugula in spring and summer salads! In fact, we grew arugula in our garden one year. The problem was it spread into the yard...and kept on spreading. It got to where my eyes would water when I mowed the "grass" because of all the peppery arugula. Crazy! Either way, this salad sounds amazing right now. And I couldn't agree with you more about farmer's markets! We're moving to Asheville, NC soon, and I'll have to scout out the new farmer's markets there!
★★★★★
Kristy Murray says
Oh wow. I never knew arugula would take over a yard. That is crazy. Good luck with your move. Asheville is such a beautiful place. Also, the perfect time of year to scout out Farmer's markets. Thanks, David for taking the time to leave a comment.