Watermelon Cucumber Salad
Too hot to turn on the stove? This hydrating watermelon cucumber salad is light and fresh; a great no-cook option for sweltering summer days. With chunks of feta cheese and fresh mint, this cucumber melon salad is a simple refreshing side dish you’ll crave all summer long.
I’ve always loved ice-cold watermelon in the summer, and constantly have watermelon water, watermelon popsicles or watermelon sorbet on hand as a sweet and tasty thirst-quencher.
Watermelon is 92% water, after all – so it’s a great hydrator on those sauna-like days, and it contains potassium which is essential for regulating the body’s water balance.
Cucumbers are 96% water — yes — even more than watermelon, which makes them the perfect pairing in this feta watermelon salad with mint.
Table of Contents
Why this recipe works:
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Ingredients:
- Mini Seedless Watermelon – seedless watermelons are the easiest ones to work with for this salad, so you’re not having to cut around or pick through the black seeds.
- Mini Persian Cucumbers – These have very thin skins and are only about ¾-1″ in diameter, so cutting them into bite-sized chunks is easy. You can also use English cucumbers or regular cucumbers that have been peeled, seeded and chopped into bite-sized pieces.
- Block of Feta Cheese (in brine) – I prefer using whole blocks of feta cheese to cut into chunks roughly the same size as the watermelon and cucumber. You can also use crumbled feta, but it tends to speckle and smear in the salad when tossed and isn’t as visually impactful.
- Fresh Mint Leaves – to add a cool, herbal pop. It’s surprisingly tasty in this salad with watermelon and feta.
- Fresh Basil Leaves – Basil is another fresh herb that works well in the watermelon cucumber feta salad. You can use it in addition to mint or as a substitute for – based on what you have on hand.
- Honey Lime Dressing (recipe given) – I use this dressing for watermelon salad because the flavor complements the other ingredients. It’s not strong or overpowering and elevates the crisp summery flavors in the dish.
Directions:
- Add the honey, lime zest, lime juice, salt and pepper to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
- Slice the water melon into 1″ cubes and add to a large bowl.
- Cut the cucumbers crosswise into bite-sized chunks and add to the watermelon.
- Dress the salad with honey lime dressing and gently toss to combine.
- Cube the feta cheese and sprinkle over the watermelon cucumber salad.
- Garnish the watermelon and cucumber salad with fresh mint or basil leaves to serve.
Pro-Tips:
Feta cheese is very crumbly and falls apart easily. To keep the chunks largely intact, toss the dressing for the watermelon salad before sprinkling on the cheese or toss the salad very gently to avoid breaking up the pieces.
Variations:
- You’ll find this watermelon cucumber salad very adaptable to other ingredients. Swap the feta cheese for queso fresco, or a salty blue cheese. Additionally, you can swap grilled or pan-fried halloumi cheese for a contrasty hot and cold watermelon salad.
- For a more savory bent, toss in halved cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes to the watermelon and cucumber salad.
- If you like things spicy, add a few drops of hot sauce to the dressing for watermelon salad or sprinkle on a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or Piment d’Esplette {affiliate link}.
- Add other fresh herbs like tarragon or dill to your cucumber melon salad.
- Instead of the honey lime dressing, try an extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing to give it a savory flavor, then augment the watermelon cucumber salad with thin slices of red onions for a spicy kick.
- Swap lime for lemon juice, for a brighter citrus flavor in this watermelon salad recipe.
Watermelon cucumber salad has been a popular summer side dish for years because it’s light and refreshing. If you’re new to this combination, I urge you to try it!
FAQ’s
Watermelon and cucumber provide natural hydration because they contain 95% and 96% water, respectively, making them an excellent resource for keeping electrolytes balanced.
We recommend serving this cucumber watermelon and feta salad with foods you’d typically serve with a coleslaw or potato salad. It’s great with anything grilled or barbecued.
The crisp, mild flavor of cucumber pairs perfectly with mildly sweet and juicy watermelon and makes a very complimentary summer salad.
To keep the watermelon cucumber salad from becoming soggy, prep and serve it at the last minute. As this salad sits, the fruit will give up more liquid (as the salt and honey from the lime dressing will draw it out) and can make the bottom of your bowl rather soupy.
To combat it, assemble the salad just before serving. If you’re making it ahead, drain any excess liquid from the cucumber watermelon salad and add the dressing just before serving.
Storage:
I recommend assembling this salad at the last minute since the watermelon and cucumber can get watery and feta cheese can get a weird texture after a few days in the salad.
If you do have some leftovers, store them in the refrigerator for up to a day in a sealed container. Drain any excess liquid from the watermelon salad before serving.
How does it taste?
This salad is popping with fresh, juicy, crunchy, vibrant flavors and textures. The creamy, salty bite of feta cheese is a nice counterpoint to the crunchy cucumbers and mildly sweet watermelon.
We love the honey lime dressing because it doesn’t compete with the main components of the dish The fresh mint adds a cool herbal quality to the cucumber and watermelon and is a nice counterpoint to the salty, crumbly feta cheese.
What our tasters said:
“I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did. It’s a nice salad for summer.” – Scott
“I appreciate this is a no-cook recipe because it’s so hot outside; I don’t want to turn on the stove.” — Francoise.
“This is such a nice side dish for summer — it’s refreshing, and I love the sweet and savory flavors. They go with so many things.” — Eric
We like to serve our grilling and barbecue favorites and anything spicy with a watermelon feta mint salad side dish. The flavors are so cooling and refreshing, providing a soothing contrast to the hot and spicy grilled dishes.
What goes with feta watermelon salad with mint:
More summer salads you might like:
- Cold Soba Salad
- Green Bean, Potato & Tomato Salad
- Cold Roast Beef Salad
- Fresh Corn and Tomato Salad with Avocado
- Lemony Chickpea Tuna Salad
- Tropical Fruit Salad
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Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
INGREDIENTS:
FOR THE WATERMELON CUCUMBER SALAD:
- 4 cups seedless watermelon cut into 1″ cubes
- 3-4 mini persian cucumbers cut into ½” rounds or 1 hothouse cucumber, diced.
- 4 ounce block feta cheese cut into ¾” dice
- 2 teaspoons fresh mint leaves chopped
FOR THE HONEY LIME DRESSING:
- ½ teaspoon lime zest
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS:
MAKE THE HONEY LIME DRESSING:
- In a small prep bowl combine the honey, lime zest and lime juice — mix until well combined. Drizzle over the salad and toss to coat.
ASSEMBLE THE WATERMELON SALAD:
- Combine the watermelon, cucumber, and feta in a large bowl.
- Add the dressing and gently toss to coat. Sprinkle the salad with fresh mint leaves and serve.
NOTES:
NUTRITION:
“Pin Watermelon Cucumber Feta Salad” For Later!
This looks amazing! I have an abundance of mint & basil so I’m looking forward to serving this soon!!
I could literally eat this everyday for breakfast and lunch I am a try diehard watermelon fan and this looks fabulous!
Perfect. Summer. Salad. Very hot here, too. And watermelons and cucumbers are on sale this week. I’m going to try it out!
Bonus that they’re on sale!
I love the simplicity and freshness of this salad. Watermelon is what gets me through the hottest days always! This is what I need to beat this heat wave we’ve been having here. Thanks for sharing!
I have the same kind of hot and humid summer so I could definitely use a hydrating and refreshing salad like this one. Really love your twist on this classic!
Glad you like it, Marie!
So refreshing looking! Can’t wait to try this!
This looks like the perfect summer salad! It is hot here in NY lately! Not 105, but hot for us in Upstate! Perfect weather to enjoy this salad! Lol! Food bloggers and their silly cookie cutters! Normal people would tell us we have too much time on our hands! 🙂