I’m not sure there’s a dish that’s more refreshing than this Watermelon Salad. If you haven’t given watermelon the savory treatment yet, I strongly recommend you try it; it’s seriously such a treat!
In addition to being refreshing and a perfect way to celebrate August, this Watermelon Salad is a breeze to whip up; Everything gets thrown into a bowl and gently mixed up. That’s it! The only exception here is if you dislike raw onions like I do. In that case, I have an easy hack for you that you can use in any recipe that calls for onions.
If you’re looking for the perfect side dish to bring to or serve at a Labor Day party, this is it right here. It’s a total crowd pleaser, and you could leave the feta on the side so people who don’t tolerate dairy can still enjoy it.
Looking for more summery sides? You’re in luck!
- Green Bean Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette
- Sesame Cucumber Salad
- Summer Strawberry Salad
- Charred Corn Salad with Pickled Onions & Avocado

Watermelon Salad with Cucumbers, Mint & Feta
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 - 6 servings
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
Description
Sweet, Savory & Salty – the perfect late summer salad!
Ingredients
- 6 cups watermelon, (about 1/2 of a small watermelon)
- 1 cup sliced cucumber, (about 2 Persians, I used half an Armenian cucumber, you could use half an English cucumber as well)
- about 3 tablespoons very thinly sliced red onion*
- 2 tablespoons chopped mint
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 ounces feta, (crumbled (about 1/2 cup))
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sumac, (optional**)
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl and stir gently to combine.
Notes
*If raw onions taste too strong to you, while you prep the rest of the ingredients do this: In a small bowl, combine the sliced onion with 1 tablespoon lime juice and 3 tablespoons hot water. Once the other salad ingredients are all in the bowl and ready to be mixed, discard and strain the liquid and add the onions.
**I love the addition of sumac in this salad and strongly recommend you order some from Oaktown Spice Shop, which has the best, freshest spices I’ve ever had. (I am not paid to say this, it’s just my honest opinion) If you choose to ignore my excellent advice, you can simply omit the sumac. 😉
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Robin Oestreich says
I love watermelon salads, and now that I recently incorporated cheese into my Paleo diet, I was so happy to find your recipe this morning and plan on making it tomorrow for our family’s Labor Day BBQ. How far in advance do you think this can be made?
zenbelly says
You can definitely prep most of it, and maybe mix it all together closer to serving.
Robin Oestreich says
Prepped everything hours in advance and tossed right before serving. Everyone loved it! Thanks for another great recipe!
★★★★★
zenbelly says
So glad to hear it, Robin! Thanks for reporting back!