Strawberry Watermelon Salad with Feta and Arugula

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This Strawberry Watermelon Salad combines fresh fruit, cucumber, arugula, and feta with a sweet honey dressing. Quick and easy to make, it’s a crowd-pleasing salad and side dish for summer!

A delightful strawberry watermelon salad featuring heart-shaped pieces of watermelon, cucumber, and strawberries on a bed of greens, with crumbled white cheese scattered throughout.

For a unique twist, I use heart-shaped cookie cutters, making this salad a go-to for Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, and Mother’s Day. However, once you taste it, you’ll find yourself craving it every day.

Recipe Tip

This is one of my favorite summer recipes, alongside my prosciutto melon platter and melon ball skewers. Simple to make, it’s sweet, refreshing, and easy to customize.

Strawberry Watermelon Salad Ingredients

Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details.

For the Salad

Arugula: This forms the base of the salad, but you can use lettuce, spinach, or any greens you like.
Crumbled feta cheese: Goat cheese or mozzarella will also work.
Strawberries: Use fresh and firm berries that can be shaped with a cookie cutter. I don’t recommend using frozen berries for this recipe.
Cucumber: English or Persian cucumbers will be best, as they have fewer seeds than other varieties.
Watermelon: Look for a heavy watermelon that sounds hollow when gently tapped.
Dressing: Extra virgin olive oil, runny honey, fresh lime juice, sea salt, and black pepper.

How to Make a Strawberry Watermelon Salad

Two hands arrange fresh arugula leaves on a white plate.

Prepare the base of the salad. Place the arugula on your platter or add it to a large bowl.

A hand sprinkles crumbled cheese over a plate of fresh arugula leaves.

Crumble the feta evenly on top.

Hands slicing a strawberry on a wooden cutting board, with whole strawberries scattered around.

Slice the strawberries. Remove the leaves from the strawberries and stand them upright. Slice the berries finely from top to bottom. Split the strawberry down the middle into two halves and spread the slices out. Use the cookie cutter to slice the heart pieces.

A hand places heart-shaped watermelon slices on a bed of arugula and crumbled cheese in a white plate.

Cut watermelon hearts with the heart-shaped cookie cutters. Top the hearts onto the salad.

A hand places a heart-shaped cucumber slice on a beautifully arranged Strawberry Watermelon Salad, featuring heart-shaped watermelon, strawberries, arugula, and crumbled cheese.

Cut out the cucumber hearts. Arrange the strawberry and cucumber evenly over the salad.

A Strawberry Watermelon Salad features heart-shaped slices of cucumber, watermelon, and strawberry, all topped with crumbled cheese as an olive oil dressing is poured over it.

Make the dressing. Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Season to taste. Pour the dressing over the salad. Enjoy!

How to Store Leftovers

Transfer the salad to an airtight container, and keep in the fridge. Enjoy within 1-2 days.

FAQs

How should I serve a strawberry watermelon salad?

I typically serve this recipe as an appetizer or side dish with main courses like grilled meat, Greek salad wraps, and tortilla pockets. However, you can also top it with protein like chicken or shrimp and serve it as a complete meal.

What else can I add to my strawberry cucumber watermelon salad?

Try adding chopped red onion for an extra kick. Or, add balsamic glaze to the dressing for a sweet, fruity, tangy taste. You can also include toppings like chopped pistachios, almonds, or walnuts for a little extra crunch.

Can I make a strawberry watermelon salad ahead of time?

This recipe is best served right away, as it may become soggy as it sits. However, you can store the dressing and salad in different airtight containers in the fridge if needed. The salad will keep fresh for up to one day, and the dressing will last for up to one week.