Refreshing, crunchy and tasty are perfect descriptions for this summer salad. Made with succulent watermelon, salty crumbly feta, homemade croutons, leafy salad greens and crispy cucumber. It’s so incredibly simple and easy to throw together in under 20 minutes. Not to mention, it’s a wonderful way to change up your salad game with some interesting flavour combos!
The origins of this recipe come with a rather funny story…
I saw these giant watermelons at my local supermarket and obtained one thinking that I was getting a pretty incredible bargain. It was $3.49, how could I resist?! But sadly, as it turns out, the price I was reading turned out to be the price per kilo. A fact, that was only brought to my attention when it was put through the till.
Now, there was no way I could return it… so I walked out of the store, $11-almost-$12 watermelon in hand. Was that price too good to be true that I should’ve known better? Probably, but hey you live and learn. So there I was with a giant not-so-cheap watermelon and the mission to make the most out of it if it was the last thing I’d do.
Eating it by itself got old pretty fast so I thought about transforming it into something savoury because I’ve always been curious about the savoury applications of watermelon. And that my friends, is how this recipe came into existence. After brainstorming all the perfect pairings with watermelon, I threw them all into this salad platter of goodness!
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make this Watermelon Salad
Here’s what you’ll need to make your very own watermelon, feta and cucumber salad.
Homemade Croutons
- Baguette: or any loaf of bread would work well to make your croutons. I love using a fresh loaf that’s at least 3 days old, where it’s starting to get a little stale. It’s a great way to use leftover bread for less waste!
- Olive oil: used to coat the cubes of bread so they toast wonderfully in the oven and get golden brown and crispy.
- Salt and Pepper: to season and flavour those croutons.
Watermelon, Feta & Cucumber Salad
- Salad Greens: pick your favourite! Here I’m using a premade mix which you should be able to pick up from your local supermarket. This one consists of various lettuce leaf varieties and some spinach.
- Watermelon: the freshest, juiciest one you can find. It adds a subtle sweetness to the salad, which is a unique change from your regular salad. I just hope you don’t mistakingly end up with a surprise like I did come checkout time.
- Cucumber: a refreshing crisp to the salad that makes it light and summery. I like to cut the cucumber into large chunks so you get to munch on the pieces – it makes for a more satisfying salad.
- Red Onion: adds a touch of heat to the dish as well as crunch and flavour. If you’re not one for raw onions, feel free to skip this part.
- Feta: the saltiness of the feta pairs wonderfully with the sweet watermelon. It’s also great for the creaminess that it adds with all of the crunchy, fresh elements.
- Basil Leaves for the herbaceous undertones to lift the salad. It also pairs nicely with watermelon and feta. Basil is optional and could be left out if you so desire.
Related: Essential culinary herbs
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: used for drizzling over the salad for a simple dressing. As the last finishing touch it pays to use one that’s of good quality.
How to Make This Watermelon Salad
Follow these steps to create this tasty salad…
Make the Croutons
- The first step is to cut the baguette into bite-size cubes and then spread them on a tray.
- Drizzle the bread with oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Set aside to cool.
Assemble the Salad
- Scatter salad leaves over a serving dish or platter.
- Top with watermelon, cucumber, croutons and red onion.
- Crumble the feta over the salad.
- Drizzle with olive oil.
- Garnish with basil leaves, then serve and enjoy!
MORE Savoury Recipes…
Watermelon, Feta and Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
Homemade Croutons
- ¼ baguette cut into bitesize cubes
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
Watermelon, Feta and Cucumber Salad
- 120g leafy salad greens
- ¼ large watermelon cut into large chunks
- ½ large cucumber cut into large chunks
- ¼ red onion finely sliced
- 100g feta cheese
- extra virgin olive oil
- fresh basil leaves
Instructions
Homemade Croutons
- Preheat your oven to 180°C fan bake.
- Place the cubed baguette on a lined baking tray. Drizzle over olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat and spread out in an even layer.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
Watermelon, Feta and Cucumber Salad
- Scatter the salad leaves over a large serving platter or dish.
- Top with watermelon, cucumber, croutons and red onion.
- Crumble over the feta cheese.
- Drizzle olive oil over the salad and garnish with basil leaves.
- Served and enjoy!
If you give this watermelon salad recipe a go, don’t forget to tag @theculinaryletter and #theculinaryletter, so I can see all your wonderful creations!
Until next time, stay curious!
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