Watermelon Salad with Feta and Balsamic Glaze
This simple Watermelon and Feta salad is the perfect mix of sweet and salty. But best of all it’s light and refreshing making it the perfect light lunch for a summer day.
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Summer Salads
If you walk down any high street in North London at this time of year you are guaranteed to see one thing – large crates stacked high with watermelons, big, swollen and juicy. I don’t know why but whenever we buy one I always get the urge to root through the whole crate looking for the largest!
Even though there are only two of us, I really have to fight the desire to cause a nuisance of myself so that I can find the biggest and best. There’s just nothing like a fresh watermelon.
There’s a lot to be said for just eating a cold, juicy wedge on a hot summers day but this versatile fruit can be used in a whole range of dishes, including in summer salads.
Mixing sweet and savoury
Fruit in salads is not a new idea. In fact I’ve already shared quite a few on this blog, including:
- Blood Orange, Beetroot and Kale Salad
- Middle Eastern Inspired Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Winter Citrus Salad
- Griddled Chicory, Apple and Stilton Salad
- Broccoli and Raisin Pasta Salad
- Pomegranate, Walnut and Bulgur Wheat Salad
- Fresh Fig Salad with Cured Ham and Mozarella
- Grilled Nectarine and Goats Cheese Salad
Many of these salads include the mix of fruit and cheese. It’s a classic pairing that has been used on cheeseboards for years!
Sweet and salty works particularly well so I chose to top the fresh, clean taste of watermelon with salty feta and sweet and sticky balsamic glaze. This salad isn’t just about the balance of flavours though, it’s also about the textures. The watermelon has it’s characteristic bite which contrasts with the soft, crumbly feta and the balsamic glaze.
Once you get over the mental block of putting fruit in a savoury dish, the possibilities are endless.
Make it vegan
If, like me, you’ve made the jump to a plant based diet then I can recommend the following brands of vegan feta to add to this salad:
- Strictly Roots Vegan Betta Feta – in my opinion the most realistic feta substitute on the market. It’s beautiful too!
- I am Nut Ok Fetamorphosis – a little on the pricey size but the jar is a decent side and the marinade is delicious.
- Cauldron Greek Style Cubes – easy to find in the supermarket and reasonably priced too!
- Violife Greek White Block – readily available in most supermarkets in the UK
If you want to know more about my vegan cheese recommendations check out this post.
The recipe
Watermelon Salad with Crumbled Feta and Balsamic Glaze
Ingredients
- 200 grams baby salad leaves
- 150 grams watermelon
- 100 grams feta
- 2 pickled shallots sliced
- 3 tbsp balsamic glaze
- 2 tbsp micro greens
Instructions
- Toss the salad leaves with the pickled shallots and half of the feta. Place onto the centre of your plate.
- Add the watermelon cubes and remaining feta before drizzling with the balsamic glaze.
- Finish with the micro greens and serve.
Nutrition
More summer recipes
To check out more tasty dishes that are perfect for the warmer months, check out my summer recipe archive.
Let me know what you think!
I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a little difficult to call this a recipe… Really this Watermelon Salad is just an assembly job, a very tasty and rather pretty assembly job… But what more do you want?! I get so lazy when it comes to cooking in the summer so this recipe is ideal for me. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way!
Do leave a comment or star rating if you try this recipe. And, if you’ve got any other fun ways of using watermelon beyond just sinking your teeth straight into a big wedge of the stuff or building a pretty summer salad, I’d love to hear in the comments below!
This is exactly what my lunch needs tomorrow! We’re having friends over and I have a beautiful watermelon that will work perfectly here! Watermelon and balsamic has me totally excited!
What perfect timing Hanady! Enjoy 😀
Oh, this looks SO good, and I already have balsamic glaze on hand, plus a big hunk of feta from the farmers market this weekend. Making this this week for sure! And I personally love “assembly job” recipes, so thank you for sharing! 🙂
Clearly it was meant to be Monica 😀 enjoy!
This salad looks amazing and is just the perfect food for summer! Should get myself a watermelon tomorrow!
Do it! You know you want to!
I love the combination of watermelon and feta. This salad looks so delicious!
Thanks Thanh it’s delicious!
I’m so happy it’s watermelon season! I LOVE it! Especially with some feta. This sounds great!
I’ll admit I do have a sneaky slice or two while making the salad!
Watermelon salad is my favorite treat in the summertime! It’s so good, especially with feta and mint!
I’m glad you like it Rae! It’s one of the best ways to cool off in the heat!