Fresh Watermelon Arugula Salad Inspired by Ina Garten

Watermelon & arugula salad blends unexpected flavor combinations that dance delightfully on your palate.

Summer’s most surprising culinary partnership brings together sweet and peppery ingredients in a remarkably elegant composition.

Fresh ingredients transform an ordinary side dish into something magical and memorable.

Crisp greens mingle with succulent fruit, creating a sensory experience that feels both sophisticated and relaxed.

Light yet substantial, this salad offers a harmonious balance of textures and tastes that surprise and delight.

Small details make massive differences in transforming simple ingredients into extraordinary cuisine.

Our approach ensures maximum flavor with minimal preparation effort: dive in and savor the unexpected.

Why Watermelon and Arugula Salad Is Summer on a Plate

• Create a Summer Flavor Explosion: This salad bursts with vibrant, refreshing tastes that dance between peppery arugula and sweet, juicy watermelon, delivering a perfect balance of bright and bold flavors.
• Craft a Gourmet Experience in Minutes: With just a few simple ingredients and quick preparation steps, you can whip up a restaurant-quality dish that looks impressive and requires minimal cooking skills, making it ideal for both novice and experienced home chefs.
• Enjoy a Light and Elegant Side Dish: The combination of crisp arugula leaves, cool watermelon chunks, and salty Parmesan shavings creates a sophisticated texture contrast that elevates any summer meal, from casual backyard barbecues to elegant dinner parties.
• Celebrate Fresh, Seasonal Ingredients: This salad showcases the natural beauty of summer produce, allowing the watermelon's natural sweetness and the arugula's peppery bite to shine through with minimal intervention, making it a celebration of simple, high-quality ingredients.

Gather These Ingredients for Watermelon Arugula Perfection

• Arugula: Peppery green with a sharp, slightly bitter taste that adds depth to the salad.
• Watermelon: Sweet, juicy summer fruit that provides a refreshing and crisp element to the dish.

• Olive Oil: High-quality extra virgin olive oil for smooth, rich flavor and dressing base.
• Lemon Juice: Bright, acidic citrus that balances the sweetness and adds zesty freshness.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and helps blend the ingredients together.
• Black Pepper: Adds a subtle heat and warm spiciness to the dressing.

• Parmesan Cheese: Aged, hard cheese with a nutty and salty profile for sharp, sophisticated flavor.

How to Toss Watermelon and Arugula the Refreshing Way

Step 1: Gather Fresh Ingredients

Collect ripe watermelon, crisp arugula, high-quality olive oil, fresh lemon, sea salt, black pepper, and Parmesan cheese.

Step 2: Prepare Watermelon

Slice watermelon into bite-sized cubes, ensuring pieces are uniform and easy to eat.

Step 3: Arrange Leafy Base

Spread fresh arugula leaves in a spacious serving bowl, creating a vibrant green foundation.

Step 4: Create Zesty Dressing

• Olive oil
• Fresh lemon juice
• Sea salt
• Cracked black pepper

Step 5: Combine Salad Components

Gently add watermelon cubes onto the arugula bed, ensuring even distribution.

Step 6: Dress and Toss

Drizzle prepared dressing over the salad, using a light hand to coat ingredients without overwhelming them. Carefully toss to blend flavors.

Step 7: Finish with Flourish

Carefully shave Parmesan cheese over the salad, allowing delicate cheese curls to rest atop the colorful medley. Sprinkle a touch of additional sea salt for enhanced flavor.

Step 8: Serve Immediately

Transfer salad to individual plates, ensuring each serving receives an equal mix of watermelon and arugula. Enjoy the refreshing, summery combination right away.

Tips That Keep Your Watermelon Salad Crisp

• Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigerate watermelon and salad ingredients beforehand to ensure a crisp, cool texture that amplifies the refreshing taste.
• Master Parmesan Shaving: Angle your vegetable peeler at a 45-degree angle to create delicate, restaurant-style cheese ribbons that melt beautifully over the salad.
• Balance Dressing Carefully: Drizzle vinaigrette sparingly to prevent wilting the delicate arugula leaves and maintain the salad's vibrant crunch.
• Salt Smart: Sprinkle kosher salt just before serving to prevent watermelon from releasing excess moisture and preserve the salad's perfect texture.
• Select Premium Ingredients: Pick baby arugula with bright green leaves and ripe, deep red watermelon for maximum flavor and visual appeal.

Store Ina’s Watermelon and Arugula Salad With Care

• Sealed Container Method: Store the salad in a glass or hard-plastic container with a tight-fitting lid to prevent air exposure and moisture absorption. Carefully layer arugula and watermelon with paper towels between them to absorb excess liquid and maintain crisp texture.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Place the container in the coldest part of the refrigerator, typically the back section, where temperature remains most consistent. Consume within 24 hours for optimal freshness and flavor quality.
• Ingredient Separation Technique: Keep arugula and watermelon pieces separate until just before serving to prevent wilting and maintain individual ingredient integrity. Dress the salad only moments before eating to preserve the salad's vibrant crunch and prevent soggy components.

Sweet and Peppery Twists to Try Next Time

• Fresh Herb Fusion: Enhance the salad by adding chopped fresh mint or basil leaves for an aromatic boost of flavor.
• Mediterranean Magic: Incorporate crumbled feta cheese and kalamata olives to give the salad a Greek-inspired profile with tangy and salty notes.
• Nutty Crunch Edition: Sprinkle toasted pine nuts or sliced almonds over the salad for added texture and a subtle nutty undertone that complements the peppery arugula.
• Spicy Summer Kick: Introduce thinly sliced jalapeños or a drizzle of chili oil to create a zesty version that brings heat to the refreshing watermelon base.

A Cool Finish to Watermelon and Arugula Salad

Crisp watermelon and peppery arugula dance together in Ina Garten’s refreshing summer salad masterpiece.

Mediterranean flavors intertwine with bright, tangy notes that awaken palate sensations.

Parmesan shavings add delicate richness to each delightful bite.

Salt crystals enhance the complex flavor profile with subtle depth.

Summer’s essence radiates through this elegant dish that celebrates seasonal ingredients.

Quick preparation meets gourmet sophistication – sharing this recipe will spark culinary conversations, inspire kitchen creativity, and make you a hero among friends seeking delicious, simple pleasures.

Ina Garten Watermelon & Arugula Salad Recipe

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4.8 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s watermelon and arugula salad brings Mediterranean freshness to summer dining. Cool watermelon chunks mingle with peppery arugula, creating a crisp harmony perfect for light meals or elegant gatherings.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms) seedless watermelon, ¾-inch-diced (3 pounds/1.4 kilograms with the rind)
• ½ pound (0.23 kilograms) baby arugula leaves
• ½-pound (0.23 kilograms) chunk Parmesan cheese

Liquid and Seasoning:

• ⅓ cup (79 milliliters) good olive oil
• ¼ cup (59 milliliters) freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

Spices:

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Craft a vibrant base by layering crisp arugula leaves and juicy watermelon cubes in a spacious mixing vessel.
2. Construct a zesty vinaigrette by vigorously whisking extra virgin olive oil (60 milliliters or 2 fluid ounces), freshly squeezed lemon juice (30 milliliters or 1 fluid ounce), kosher salt (), and freshly ground black pepper () until thoroughly emulsified.
3. Gently cascade the prepared dressing over the arugula and watermelon, using just enough to lightly coat the ingredients without saturating them, then delicately fold the mixture to ensure even distribution of flavors.
4. Artfully portion the dressed salad onto six individual serving plates, crowning each portion with delicate Parmesan cheese shavings and a subtle sprinkle of additional salt to elevate the overall taste profile.

Notes

• Harvest crisp arugula leaves with vibrant green color and minimal wilting to ensure maximum flavor and texture in your salad.
• Refrigerate watermelon chunks before preparing to maintain their cool, refreshing quality and prevent premature softening.
• Create delicate Parmesan curls using a sharp vegetable peeler, allowing thin, elegant shavings to melt softly over the salad.
• Drizzle dressing sparingly, tasting and adjusting to prevent overwhelming the delicate ingredients and maintaining the salad’s light profile.
• Sprinkle sea salt moments before serving to intensify flavors without compromising the watermelon’s structural integrity and preventing unwanted moisture release.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 263 kcal
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg