Watermelon Salad With Strawberries, Feta, Mint And Cucumber

If you’re looking for a summer salad that practically glows with freshness, this watermelon and feta salad is exactly what you need. It’s bright, hydrating, sweet, salty, and crisp all at once. Even better, it takes less time to make. This salad also has everything a warm-weather recipe should have: seasonal fruit, cooling cucumber, a burst of fresh mint, and a simple lemon dressing that ties it all together.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Hydrating and refreshing: The mix of watermelon, cucumber, and mint is cooling and juicy in every bite.
• Quick to make: Chop, whisk, toss. That’s it.
• Great for gatherings: Perfect for braais, picnics, parties, or days too hot to cook.
• Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian: No tweaking needed.

If you’re looking for an easy crowd-pleaser, this salad checks every box.

Ingredients for Watermelon & Feta Salad

This recipe uses simple, fresh ingredients. Because the salad is light and minimal, every component counts.

Watermelon: Choose a ripe, sweet watermelon. The better the fruit, the brighter the salad.

Cucumber: I used half a large English cucumber. This adds a cooling crunch. You can peel it or leave the skin on for extra colour.

Strawberries: Fresh strawberries add sweetness and a pop of vibrant red.

Feta cheese: Choose feta with a strong, tangy flavour. It contrasts beautifully with the fruit. However, any feta that you have still works.

Fresh mint: Mint brightens the whole dish. It’s optional, but it makes the salad taste extra fresh.

Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon delivers tang. Lime also works if that’s what you have.

Olive oil: A good quality extra-virgin olive oil makes the dressing smooth and flavourful.

Honey: Honey adds a touch of sweetness to balance the lemon so the dressing isn’t too sharp or sour.

Salt, pepper and dried herbs: A little seasoning balances the sweetness and brings everything together.

How to Make Watermelon & Feta Salad

Step 1: Prep the Watermelon

Cut the watermelon into cubes and the cucumber into halves. Place the watermelon and cucumber in a bowl and let any excess juice drain for a few minutes. This keeps the salad from becoming too wet.

Step 2: Prep the Strawberries

Halve the strawberries and set them aside.

Step 3: Make the Dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt, pepper, and dried herbs until well combined.

Step 4: Assemble the Salad Base

Add the drained watermelon, cucumber, strawberries, and fresh mint to a large serving bowl.

Step 5: Dress the Salad

Drizzle the dressing over the bowl and toss gently so the fruit doesn’t break apart.

Step 6: Finish with Feta and Mint Leaves

Crumble the feta on top and add a few extra mint leaves for freshness.

Step 7: Serve

This salad tastes best right away while everything is cold and crisp.

Storing

This salad truly shines when enjoyed right away, so serving it fresh is best. If you do have leftovers:

• Store them covered in the fridge for up to 1–2 days.
• Keep in mind that watermelon and cucumber release liquid naturally.
• Drain off extra juice before eating.

It will still taste good, but the texture is always at its peak when freshly mixed.

Tips for the Best Watermelon & Feta Salad

• Use cold ingredients: This salad tastes extra refreshing when served chilled.
• Add the dressing just before eating: This prevents the salad from getting soggy.
• Go gentle when tossing: Watermelon bruises easily.
• Use fresh lemon or lime only: Bottled juice doesn’t have the same bright flavour.
• Save some mint and feta for topping: It makes the bowl look beautiful.

What to Serve It With

This salad pairs wonderfully with anything coming off the grill, including:

• Chicken skewers
• Lemon-herb fish
• Prawns
• Grilled halloumi
• Veggie kebabs

It also works as a refreshing side for pasta dishes or wraps.

This watermelon and feta salad with strawberries, cucumber, mint and a lemon dressing is everything you want in a warm-weather dish: crisp, juicy, simple, and full of fresh flavour. It comes together in minutes yet looks and tastes like something you’d serve at a summer garden party.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a rating and a comment below, it helps others discover the recipe, and I always enjoy hearing how it turned out for you.