Summer is the best time for some sweet, juicy watermelon, and nothing compliments its flavors and textures more than the salty dryness of feta cheese. Like peanut butter to jelly, like cookies to milk – the watermelon and feta cheese in this Easy Watermelon Feta Mint Salad are just meant to be together.
Summertime in Montreal is hot, hot, hot! I guess most people don’t associate Canada with heat – we are more renowned for our blistery cold winters – but let me be the first to tell you that summer here is a force to be reckoned with in its own right! When those hot, humid and sunny days come, nothing cheers me up more than something that cools me down – and watermelon certainly fits the bill 😉 This Easy Watermelon Feta Mint Salad is a result of my flirtations with watermelon many years ago, coupled with my desire to find a refreshing way to eat this super fruit!
I chose to use Feta cheese in the salad because it might as well be watermelon’s opposite. Where watermelon is sweet, feta is salty; where watermelon is juicy, feta is dry; where watermelon is firm, feta is crumbly, and so on… and, as the age-old adage goes, opposites in this case certainly do attract! I added some cucumber, mint and a balsamic vinegar to round out the flavors, and voilà! An easy, convenient, and delicious salad for all your summer barbecues. 😉
To sweeten the deal even further, consider this. Since watermelon is actually composed of 92% water, it’s a great fruit to eat on hot days – helps you fight dehydration! It’s a good source of Vitamin C, as well, and at just 30 calories per 100 gram serving, it’s a fairly low-cal food too 🙂 So don’t be shy – let loose and go wild with watermelon!!!
How to choose the best watermelon:
Although I am no expert, being a grocer’s daughter allowed me to pick up a few tricks…
1- Look for the field spot. This is a creamy, yellow patch, usually found on the underside of the watermelon. As you can probably guess, this is where the melon lay on the ground. A clear indicator of the melon not ripening properly is a white or non-existent field spot.
2-Take a good look at your watermelon. Once you know your melon has ripened properly, make sure it isn’t lopsided, or has irregular bumps. This would indicate that proper growth was not achieved due to a variation of sunlight and/or water. Examine the color. It should be a dull green. If your watermelon has a shiny appearance, it probably means that it is under ripe. Move on and find another watermelon.
3-Pick up your watermelon. Is it heavier than you were expecting? Great, you may have chosen a winner! As a general rule of thumb, a heavy melon is usually a ripe melon.
4-Press the navel. If it is hard, pick another one. If it is soft, great! You have one more criteria to meet.
5-Inspect the tail. A ripe watermelon will detach very easily from the vine it is connected to when it is picked. In fact, when a ripe and sweet watermelon is picked, it should detach very easily. The end result is a smooth spot where the vine was attached. If the tail is still green or if you have a long curly tail, these are signs that the watermelon was picked too early. Best to look for another one.
6-Knock, knock. Who’s there? Apparently, when knocking on your melon, the response should be a full thud! To be honest, this one still eludes me …but I will keep knocking away in an attempt to perfect this method.
Origins of the recipe for Easy Watermelon Feta Mint Salad:
As was mentioned, this recipe was a direct result of some experimentation based on Jacques Pepin’s watermelon feta salad. I would encourage you to play with the list of ingredients according to your preferences and the availability of ingredients.
Watermelon and Feta -a match made in heaven, especially if your favorite flavor combinations are sweet and salty! So don’t keep this perfect pair apart any longer – throw together this Easy Watermelon Feta Mint Salad today! 🙂 If you decide to tweak the recipe, be sure to post what you did in the comments section below! I’d love to hear about it. Let’s continue to inspire one another and grow as chefs and bakers 🙂
Easy Watermelon Feta Mint Salad
Ingredients
- 1 small watermelon 5-6 pounds
- 4-6 ounces feta cheese
- 1/2-1 cup of loosely packed mint leaves minced
- extra mint leaves for garnishing
Balsamic Vinaigrette:
- 1 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
Instructions
- With a melon baller, scoop out the watermelon and drop in a large mixing bowl.
- Gently toss together melon balls, crumbled feta cheese and minced fresh mint.
- In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar and olive oil to make the vinaigrette.
- Drizzle over salad.
- Garnish with mint leaves.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Thanks for dropping by.
Ciao for now!
Maria 🙂
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Ur pal val says
Great looking salad… looks so refreshing!
Maria says
Agreed, there is nothing more refreshing than watermelon. Appreciate your comment, thanks for stopping by 🙂
deb@glutenfreefarina says
Perfect dish to make during this hot summer we’re having. Love the flavors.
Maria says
Agreed! Appreciate you dropping by Deb 🙂
Jovina Coughlin says
Delicious combination
Maria says
Jacques Pepin is a genius! Thanks for dropping by Jovina 🙂