Watermelon Arugula Salad
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Savor the flavors of summer! Enjoy refreshing watermelon arugula salad. Generously sprinkled with feta, fresh herbs, and healthy ingredients, it’s drizzled with balsamic dressing. Assemble this easy recipe in 15 minutes!
Like strawberry spinach salad, this flavorful recipe is perfect for hot-weather days. Serve it on Father’s Day and 4th of July. Enjoy it as a healthy main dish or side. It’s ideal for picnics and potlucks all season long.
If you have leftover watermelon from this recipe, don’t let it go to waste. Pull out the blender and make a refreshing watermelon slushie.
🛒 INGREDIENTS
The combination of these colorful fresh ingredients give this watermelon arugula salad a sophisticated taste and artful look. The presentation of this dish is stunningly beautiful! It’s dinner-party worthy.
Here’s what you’ll need to assemble this easy recipe.
- Seedless watermelon
- Fresh baby arugula
- Red onion
- Fresh oregano or mint
- Feta cheese
- Kalamata olives
- Candied walnuts (glazed walnuts)
- Lemon (for zest)
- Creamy balsamic dressing (homemade or store-bought)
🥗 EASY INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS
Missing an ingredient for this watermelon arugula salad? Don’t put on your shoes and head to the market. Instead, check your pantry and fridge for these easy ingredient swaps!
- Seedless Watermelon: Try fresh strawberries or thick-sliced heirloom tomatoes instead.
- Baby Arugula: Use baby spinach, baby kale, or mixed greens.
- Red Onion: Use shallots instead.
- Fresh Oregano: This recipe is often paired with fresh mint. But as is the case with fresh cilantro, there are many who are not fans of fresh mint. Substitute with fresh basil leaves, fresh dill, or Italian parsley.
- Feta Cheese: The best swaps are goat cheese or queso fresco.
- Glazed Walnuts: Try glazed pecans, sunflower seeds, or pepita (pumpkin seeds).
- Lemon Zest: Use orange zest.
- Balsamic Dressing: Whisk together red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar, olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
🍉 ASSEMBLE WATERMELON ARUGULA SALAD
RECIPE PREP: Quarter the watermelon. Slice off and discard the rind and the bitter white layer of flesh.
📖 RECIPE STEPS
- STEP 1: Cut the sweet red flesh of the watermelon into 1-inch cubes.
- STEP 2: Thinly slice the red onion. Strip oregano leaves from their woody stems. Discard the stems. Grate the lemon rind for zest.
- STEP 3: Assemble the salad in a large bowl. Gently combine cubed watermelon, arugula, oregano leaves, red onion, feta and olives.
- STEP 4: When ready to serve, vigorously shake the container of balsamic vinaigrette. Drizzle 1/4 cup dressing over the salad (reserve the remainder). Gently toss to combine. If needed, add more vinaigrette and salt and pepper to taste. Garnish watermelon arugula salad with a sprinkling of lemon zest and glazed walnuts. Serve immediately.
👩🏻🍳 KITCHEN SMARTS: Want to brighten up the flavor of this delicious salad? Lightly drizzle fresh lemon juice over the top.
🧑🏼🍳 RECIPE FAQ
Arugula leaves bring a spicy, tart, peppery kick to fresh garden recipes. The leaves can be slightly bitter. On the other hand, the flavor of baby arugula is more delicate and mild. It’s a better fit for watermelon salad.
Savory recipes like teriyaki chicken skewers, spicy grilled lime shrimp, and grilled pork loin kabobs. Or pair this cool summer salad with a simple baked potato dolloped with pats of butter and sour cream.
Here’s what to prep in advance: peel and cube watermelon. Put cubes in a lidded container and refrigerate. Assemble recipes for DIY dressing and candied walnuts. Fresh ingredients should not be combined until serving time. Watermelon pieces shed water. It can make arugula limp.
Once assembled, this salad does not keep long. It must be served and enjoyed immediately. To prolong freshness during parties, place salad bowl inside a larger bowl or chafing dish filled with ice. Surround the sides of the salad bowl with ice as well. Cover with plastic wrap.
Instead of cutting the watermelon in cubes, use a melon baller instead. For the 4th of July, cut the watermelon with a star-shaped cookie cutter.
Try seedless grapes, or cherry tomatoes that have been sliced in half.
Make a cool refreshing watermelon slushie, or an icy frozen watermelon sorbet.
🥗 MORE SUMMER SALADS TO MAKE ASAP
When the weather heats up, spend less time in the kitchen. Prep these quick, easy, summer salad recipes! So you’ll have them on hand when needed, add this essential collection to your recipe arsenal.
- Cucumber Salad
- Watergate Salad
- Chinese Chicken Salad
- Cold Spaghetti Salad
- Classic Macaroni Salad
- Tropical Fruit Salad
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
rate this RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Friends and family say this is the best watermelon salad recipe with arugula and feta cheese! They love its beautiful, bountiful flavors and textures.
If you enjoyed this delicious recipe, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. And share it with a friend or two!
WATERMELON ARUGULA SALAD
- Total Time: 15 Minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
Description
Savor the flavors of summer with this cool, refreshing, watermelon arugula salad! Assemble this easy recipe in 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- 3 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
- 5 packed cups fresh baby arugula
- 1/2 small red onion
- 1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves (or torn mint leaves)
- 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/3 cup creamy balsamic dressing (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 small lemon – zest only
- 1/2 cup candied walnuts (glazed walnuts)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
RECIPE PREP: Quarter the watermelon. Slice off and discard the rind and the bitter white layer of flesh.
- Cut the sweet red flesh of the watermelon into 1-inch cubes.
- Thinly slice the red onion. Strip oregano leaves from their woody stems. Discard the stems. Grate the lemon rind for zest.
- Assemble the salad in a large bowl. Gently combine cubed watermelon, arugula, oregano leaves, red onion, feta and olives.
- When ready to serve, vigorously shake the container of balsamic vinaigrette. Drizzle 1/4 cup dressing over the salad (reserve the remainder). Gently toss to combine. If needed, add more vinaigrette. Garnish the watermelon arugula salad with lemon zest and glazed walnuts. Serve immediately.
Notes
HOW TO PREP THIS SALAD IN ADVANCE: Peel and cube the watermelon. Put the cubes in a lidded container and refrigerate. If making DIY dressing and candied walnuts, assemble these recipes. Fresh ingredients should not be combined until serving time. Watermelon pieces shed water. It can make the arugula limp.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 0 Minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
WATERMELON ARUGULA SALAD 👉🏻 JOIN THE CONVO
Have you ever enjoyed a plate of watermelon arugula salad? Was it at a restaurant, potluck or family gathering? What are your favorite summer salads for weekday meals? Join the conversation below!
This recipe was amazing! The homemade balsamic dressing is spectacular. Love the combination between arugula and watermelon. Will be making this again and again.
This was a great summer salad. I picked up some pre-cut Watermelon and this recipe was perfect!
What a refreshing and flavorful salad! This is definitely perfect for the summer season!
Love how the spicy arugula pairs so well with the watermelon! We could not get enough! Delish!
Watermelon salads are perfect for summer. I love that this has a little oregano in there too for an extra burst of flavor.