Watermelon Mandarin Feta Salad

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This healthy and flavorful Watermelon Mandarin Feta Salad is the perfect light lunch or side dish for summer. It’s made with a lovely combination of fruits and veggies, then topped off with olive oil dressing!

A Refreshing Watermelon Feta Salad for Summer

While warm comfort food is my go-to during the winter, I can’t resist a good summer salad once the days get longer. It’s always nice to round up some fresh fruits and vegetables and go to town. This watermelon feta salad is the ultimate combination!

Not only is this recipe simple and refreshing, but it has a unique flavor profile that sets it apart from other salads. Juicy cubes of watermelon combine with mandarin oranges, blueberries, lettuce, onions and feta cheese, all topped with a tasty 3-ingredient dressing. This is gonna be the first summer salad you make every year!

What You’ll Need

This vibrant salad is definitely an eye-catcher, but it doesn’t call for anything too fancy. Here’s what you’ll need for the salad and the homemade dressing:

For the Watermelon Feta Salad

• Lettuce: Or any greens of choice, washed and drained. This works great with fresh spinach, Kale or Arugula.
• Seedless Watermelon: Cut into cubes.
• Mandarin Oranges: You’ll need around 8 to 10.
• Blueberries: Washed and dried.
• Red Onion: Peeled and thinly sliced.
• Feta Cheese: Crumbled.

For the Olive Oil Dressing

• Olive Oil: You’ll need 2 tablespoons.
• Salt & Pepper: To taste.
• Honey: Or maple syrup, optional.

How to Peel a Mandarin Orange

I have a quick trick for peeling mandarin oranges, and it’s fool-proof! First, cut off the ends of your orange. Then, carefully slice across, cutting just the skin, and pull apart to unravel the orange. At this point, you can just grab off the segments inside and throw them into your salad!

Why Use Honey?

A touch of honey or maple syrup really brings out the flavors of the fruits. Sample the fruits before adding them to the salad and sweeten to taste.

How to Make this Watermelon Feta Salad

This 10-minute salad comes together with ease! It’s super convenient for busy weekdays and last-minute meals.

1. Make Dressing: Combine the dressing ingredients and stir. Set aside.
2. Prepare Fruit: Wash and dry the fruit, slice the watermelon into 1-inch cubes and peel the mandarins.
3. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, arrange the lettuce, then add the fruit and onions.
4. Add Toppings: Pour dressing and toss gently. Add feta crumbles. Serve immediately or let chill for up to 4 hours in the refrigerator before serving.

Tips for Success

Want to make sure your salad is as yummy as possible? Take note of these easy tips.

• Chill the Fruits in Preparation: You want your salad to be cold and refreshing, right? Just chill your fruit in the fridge prior to assembly!
• Add Fruit: This salad certainly isn’t lacking in the flavor department. But if you want to spruce it up even further, feel free to add in some fresh strawberries, raspberries or another fruit of choice.
• Substitute Lettuce: Not a fan of lettuce? This salad also tastes great with fresh kale, spinach or arugula!
• Avoid Chilling the Salad for Too Long: If your salad sits in the fridge for longer than 4 hours, it will start to become soggy. I recommend either serving it immediately or chilling it for an hour or two.

Serving Suggestions

Watermelon feta salad can be served on its own as a light lunch, but it also makes a great side or appetizer. Here are a few of the dishes I like to pair it with!

• Serve with lunch: My Balsamic Chicken Wrap are such a fun summer entree. This is a savory sweet wrap with a blackberry sauce that would be the perfect compliment to this salad.
• Serve with Protein: Pairing this salad with meat or a plant-based protein is a great way to prepare a hearty meal.
• Pair with Other Sides: Two negatives may not make a positive, but two side dishes can definitely make a meal! Try pairing this salad with a batch of Crispy Roasted Lemon Potatoes or Sweet and Spicy Green Beans.

Can This Recipe Be Made Ahead?

Watermelon feta salad can be prepared up to 4 hours before you’re ready to eat it. After that, it won’t taste as fresh. If you’re making your salad ahead of time, add some fresh lemon juice before chilling it to help preserve everything.

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