This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
This Watermelon Cucumber Salad is a vibrant summer side dish packed with Mediterranean flavors. It’s perfect for serving a crowd.
Sweet, refreshing watermelon is paired with creamy feta and shaped into a chessboard. Frame it with crisp cucumber slices, and it’s as vibrant as it is delicious.
The salad can be made a few hours in advance and stored covered in the fridge. Dress it with balsamic glaze and olive oil when you are ready to serve.
Recipe Tip
Serve it with my focaccia and Milanese chicken for a complete meal.
❤️Why You’ll Love this Watermelon Cucumber Salad
- Simple salad with fresh ingredients.
- Showstopping presentation that is sure to impress.
- Versatile dish you can serve on its own or as a side salad alongside pretty much anything.
Watermelon Cucumber Salad Ingredients
Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
- Watermelon: Choose a firm, sweet melon that has a large field spot and sounds hollow when you tap it.
- Feta: Use blocks of feta for the best taste.
- Cucumber: I prefer English cucumber, but Persian is fine, too. Peel it or leave it as is.
- Fresh basil: To garnish and add a bright flavor. Arrange as whole leaves or chop finely.
- Dressing: Balsamic glaze, olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, and pepper.
How to Make a Watermelon Feta Salad
- Prepare the ingredients: Slice and cube the watermelon and feta.
- Arrange the salad: Place the cheese and fruit on a platter in a chessboard pattern.
- Garnish: Garnish with basil leaves.
- Frame: Halve the cucumber slices and outline the salad. Mix olive oil and balsamic glaze, then drizzle over the salad. Season well.
Possible Variations
- Watermelon: Grill the watermelon before cubing, or swap for any firm melon, such as honeydew, cantaloupe, or Galia.
- Feta: Halloumi, cheddar, goat cheese, or a similar hard cheese.
- Cucumber: Try radishes, strawberries, blueberries, avocado, or pomegranate.
- Fresh basil: Cilantro, mint, dill, or parsley.
- Toppings: Thinly sliced red onion (raw or pickled), a squeeze of lime juice, honey, hot honey, chopped pistachios, fresh herbs, and edible flowers (if you want to go all in).
- Presentation: Use a melon baller for a different look.
How to Store Leftovers
Keep leftovers covered and in the fridge. Enjoy it within 1 day.
FAQs
Yes, you can prepare it a few hours ahead, but wait to season the salad until right before serving. Also, be sure to dry the watermelon cubes on a paper towel before plating to limit the juices.
Absolutely! Cube a ‘master’ piece of watermelon and feta, and use these as a guide to cut your other cubes.
It’s arranged in fun, bite-sized chunks for easy serving. This makes it perfect for gatherings, and you can double or triple the ingredients as needed.
More Watermelon & Feta
Valentine's day
Watermelon Feta Bites
Fourth of July
Watermelon Carpaccio
Salads
Pomegranate Salad
Appetizers
Watermelon Feta Appetizer
Watermelon Cucumber Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 watermelon
- 600 grams feta
- 10 slices cucumber
- fresh basil leaves, to garnish
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons balsamic glaze
- sea salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Slice the watermelon.
- Use the square cookie cutter to cut out the watermelon cubes. You'll need 32 cubes of watermelon and feta, each.
- 'Dry' the watermelon cubes with a paper towel before plating so they won't release that much juice.
- Repeat with the feta. I got 9 cutouts from each block.
- Arrange the chessboard on a large platter or chopping board.
- Halve the cucumber slices and place the halves along the outer edge of the salad.
- Top with finely chopped basil or use single leaves, as you prefer.
- To make the dressing, mix olive oil and balsamic glaze.
- Add sea salt and white pepper to taste, and pour the dressing over the salad when ready to serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
