Description
Ina Garten’s feta watermelon salad combines Mediterranean flavors with summer’s freshest ingredients. Salty feta, juicy watermelon, and crisp mint create a refreshing dish you’ll crave on warm afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) cubed watermelon (1-inch cubes recommended)
- ½ red onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) feta cheese, crumbled
Herbs and Flavoring:
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze (optional)
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing vessel, gently cube fresh watermelon into uniform 1-inch (2.54 centimeters) pieces, ensuring clean and precise cuts.
- Finely dice the red onion into delicate, translucent slivers, creating a sharp contrast against the watermelon’s vibrant red hue.
- Delicately chop fresh mint leaves, releasing their aromatic essence and preparing them to infuse the salad with a bright, herbaceous note.
- Scatter the ingredients into the mixing bowl, allowing the watermelon, onion, and mint to create a visually appealing mosaic of colors and textures.
- Crumble the feta cheese with light, precise movements, distributing the creamy white cheese fragments evenly across the salad surface.
- For an optional flavor enhancement, drizzle premium balsamic vinegar or a rich balsamic glaze in a graceful, circular motion over the salad components.
- Using a soft, folding technique, gently combine the ingredients, ensuring the watermelon cubes remain intact and the flavors intermingle delicately.
- Chill the salad for 10 to 15 minutes in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to harmonize and develop a refreshing, crisp profile.
- Serve immediately in a chilled serving dish, presenting a vibrant and elegant summer salad that tantalizes both the eyes and palate.
Notes
- Chill the salad in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to enhance its refreshing flavor and let the ingredients meld together perfectly.
- Crumble fresh feta cheese generously, ensuring each bite has that creamy, tangy goodness that complements the watermelon’s sweetness.
- Drizzle balsamic glaze sparingly, creating delicate swirls that add a rich, complex note without overwhelming the salad’s natural flavors.
- Slice watermelon into uniform 1-inch cubes for easy eating and an attractive presentation that makes every serving look appetizing.
- Serve immediately after chilling to maintain the crisp texture and vibrant colors that make this salad so irresistible.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 80 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg