Up until a few years ago, I barely ate salad and even today it has to be something special to grab me. This watermelon and feta salad is something special.

It goes without saying that watermelon and feta salad is perfect for the summer when watermelons are at their sweetest and juiciest – and cheapest, too.

There’s something about this recipe that sparked my interest from the very beginning – it was sent to us from Spain from our Spanish chef and friend, Cristina Parés.

What makes Watermelon and Feta Salad so tasty?

If you stripped this salad down to its bare essentials then you wouldn’t expect the finished product to be so good. Watermelon, feta, arugula, lemon, walnuts and mint – simple enough, right?

But mix it all together and you’ve suddenly got something that stands out from the crowd. Arugula (or rocket) has that slight hint of bitter that is offset by the juicy, sweet watermelon and mint leaves, while the lemon brings the best out of the feta.

Of course, a salad like this shouldn’t be all soft, either, and walnuts give it the perfect bite.

Ulterior Motives

We do have a sneaky reason for bigging up watermelon salad too – the evidence that watermelons are absolute heavyweights in the healthy-eating world is really stacking up.

Watermelons contain a huge range of phytonutrients that are needed by our bodies – and could have a huge impact on our anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cardiovascular systems. See here if you’d like to dig a little deeper.

Heavyweights – Watermelon and Feta Salad

Talking of heavyweights – when you’re picking your watermelon, go for the heaviest one (when comparing to others of the same size). More weight means that the melon is riper, and therefore more ready to be eaten. Look for the yellow spot on the outside too – a creamy or yellow spot is much better than a white one. Still need more help? Try this helpful guide to picking the right watermelon.

If you’re buying a pre-cut watermelon, look for a nice, deep red colour, preferably without white streaks.

Got your watermelon? Right, on to the recipe!

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Add to CollectionGo to Collections Print Pin

4.84 from 6 votes

This exceptionally quick and easy watermelon and feta salad is also incredibly tasty – and we even include a guide to picking the right watermelon!

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Cuisine:Vegetarian

Diet: egg-free, gluten-free

Prep Time:10 minutes minutes

Total Time:10 minutes minutes

Servings:2 servings

Calories:426kcal

Author: Cristina Parés & HurryTheFoodUp

Ingredients

• 32 oz watermelon
• 2 handfuls arugula (roughly 150g or 5oz)
• 3 oz low fat feta cheese
• ½ lemon (zest and juice)
• 2 sprigs mint, fresh
• 2 tbsp walnuts
• 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
• 2 tsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

• Cut the watermelon into small cubes. Give the arugula a good wash. Add both to a bowl.
  32 oz watermelon, 2 handfuls arugula
• Crumble the feta cheese and add that, too.
  3 oz low fat feta cheese
• In a separate bowl, mix the olive oil with the salt and pepper, add the lemon juice and zest and the chopped mint leaves.
  ½ lemon, 2 tsp olive oil, Salt and pepper to taste, 2 sprigs mint, fresh
• Dress with the olive oil and herbs mix before serving.
• Garnish with crumbled walnuts and pumpkin seeds.
  2 tbsp walnuts, 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
  

NOTES

Make-ahead? Yes, just use within two days because of the arugula/rocket.

Need more salads?! Check out the evergreen chickpea salad for an awesomely quick and tasty lunch, or this pear and mustard salad for one with a unique twist!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Amount per Serving

Calories

426

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

24

g

37

%

Saturated Fat

 

6

g

38

%

Trans Fat

 

0.01

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

8

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

6

g

Cholesterol

 

23

mg

8

%

Sodium

 

393

mg

17

%

Potassium

 

785

mg

22

%

Carbohydrates

 

44

g

15

%

Fiber

 

5

g

21

%

Sugar

 

31

g

34

%

Protein

 

19

g

38

%

Vitamin A

 

3107

IU

62

%

Vitamin C

 

55

mg

67

%

Calcium

 

91

mg

9

%

Iron

 

3

mg

17

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @HurryTheFoodUp on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece!

This is a Watermelon and Feta Salad recipe from www.hurrythefoodup.com