How Do You Make Watermelon Salad?

Watermelon salad combines sliced watermelon with feta or goat cheese, basil, olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, and Champagne vinegar. This no-cook side dish works for Fourth of July barbecues, picnics, and summer meals.

Chef Richard Hanna, former head chef of Le Cordon Bleu in Los Angeles, developed this watermelon salad recipe as a simple summer barbecue side dish.

Watermelon Salad Essentials:

• Use a small, ripe watermelon for easier slicing and serving.
• Slice the watermelon into 1/2-inch wedges.
• Use feta or goat cheese and fresh basil for contrast with the watermelon.
• Add olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, and Champagne vinegar directly over the wedges.
• Serve the salad soon after assembling it.
• Keep prepared ingredients chilled until serving.

Watermelon Salad at a Glance:

What Ingredients Do You Need for Watermelon Salad?

Use fresh watermelon, basil, cheese, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. This recipe serves watermelon wedges with the dressing and toppings added directly before serving.

Ingredients

• 1 small watermelon
• 3 basil leaves
• 1 cup feta or goat cheese
• 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

How Do You Choose a Watermelon for Salad?

Choose a watermelon with a firm, even exterior and a creamy yellow field spot. A ripe watermelon can also make a deep, hollow sound when tapped.

A small watermelon is easier to slice into wedges for this recipe. Select a seedless watermelon if you want fewer seeds to remove before serving.

How Do You Make Watermelon Salad?

Make watermelon salad by arranging watermelon wedges on a tray, adding vinegar and olive oil, then topping the wedges with cheese, basil, salt, and pepper. Keep the wedges exposed so they hold the dressing and toppings.

1. Slice the watermelon into 1/2-inch wedges.
2. Arrange the wedges in rows on a serving tray.
3. Sprinkle the white balsamic vinegar over the watermelon.
4. Add the Champagne vinegar and olive oil.
5. Break feta or goat cheese into small pieces and scatter it over the wedges.
6. Add salt and freshly ground pepper.
7. Stack the basil leaves, roll them tightly, and slice them into thin ribbons.
8. Sprinkle basil over the salad and serve.

How Do You Cut Basil Into Thin Ribbons?

Cut basil into thin ribbons by stacking the leaves, rolling them tightly, and slicing across the roll. This method is called a chiffonade.

Add the basil after the dressing and cheese. The thin basil ribbons provide fresh flavor and a finished appearance.

How Should You Serve Watermelon Salad?

Serve watermelon salad on a wide tray with the wedges arranged in a single layer or slightly overlapping rows. Add the dressing, cheese, and basil shortly before serving to keep the wedges easy to handle.

Serve watermelon salad as a side dish with grilled vegetables, burgers, chicken, or other barbecue foods. Use a serving utensil that can lift each wedge without breaking it apart.

Create Room for Summer Hosting.

Make watermelon salad with sliced watermelon, fresh basil, cheese, vinegar, and olive oil for an easy Fourth of July or summer barbecue side dish. Public Storage can help you put away permitted, clean, dry patio furniture, household bins, and lower-use items while you organize your outdoor hosting space.

Clear the patio. Serve the salad.

Watermelon Salad FAQs

What Cheese Goes With Watermelon Salad?
Feta and goat cheese both work with watermelon salad. Use 1 cup of either cheese and break it into small pieces before adding it to the watermelon.

Can You Make Watermelon Salad Ahead of Time?
Prepare the watermelon, cheese, basil, and dressing ingredients ahead of time, then assemble the salad shortly before serving. This keeps the watermelon wedges easier to serve.

What Vinegar Is Used in Watermelon Salad?
This watermelon salad uses white balsamic vinegar and Champagne vinegar. Add each vinegar directly over the watermelon wedges before adding olive oil, cheese, and basil.

How Do You Keep Watermelon Salad From Becoming Watery?
Cut and drain the watermelon before assembling the salad, then add the dressing shortly before serving. Keep the prepared ingredients chilled until it is time to serve.

What Should You Serve With Watermelon Salad?
Serve watermelon salad with barbecue foods such as grilled vegetables, chicken, burgers, or sandwiches. It also works as a side dish for picnics and summer gatherings.