Ingredients
- 1 kg seedless watermelon
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 200 grams feta cheese, crumbled into chunks
- 1 cup kalamata olives, pitted
- 2 tablespoons mint leaves, roughly shredded
- ¼ cup flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Peel the watermelon and cut the flesh into 3 cm cubes.
- Combine the watermelon with the rest of the ingredients, except the feta, and lightly mix together.
- Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle the feta over the top.
- Serve chilled.
Watermelon has always been a classic food associated with summer for many years. Mix this with some feta, olives, red onion and a simple dressing, and you get a classic summer salad. The salty and sweet combination is just the thing you are looking for on a hot summers day.
Getting this salad right starts with the watermelon. You want to find a melon that has a deep rich color with a sweet taste. That classic watermelon aroma will also be an indication your are onto a winner. You also need to think about the texture, no one likes soggy melon. Look for a crispy texture and you can’t go wrong.
Once you have found the perfect watermelon, the next focus should be the feta. With so many different varieties of feta on the market these days, its hard to know which one to choose. Some will be in a brine and others have a firm texture. For this recipe, go for a creamier feta, it’s saltiness will make a great contrast against the crisp watermelon.
It is best not to mix in the feta when you are combining all the other ingredients. A soft feta will coat the watermelon and tends to overpower the dish. Save the feta till last and sprinkle it over the top just before serving.
Serve this salad with some tender grilled chicken, a tasty steak or your favorite barbecue snags.
Salad Variations
Try adding some cucumber or sliced cherry tomatoes if you are wanting to vary this salad. Some finely grated lemon zest also goes great for flavor. For those that enjoy a bit of heat, some thinly sliced chilli peppers would work too.
