Watermelon Basil Salad

This Watermelon Basil Salad combines sweet, juicy melon with salty feta, fresh basil, and a tangy balsamic dressing for the ultimate easy summer side or main course salad. It comes together in minutes with simple ingredients, and it disappears at every barbecue.

This twist on the classic watermelon and feta salad swaps the usual mint for fresh basil and adds dried figs for an unexpected chewy sweetness.

It's hearty enough for a main dish, refreshing enough for a hot summer afternoon, and it's always a big hit!

Ingredient Notes

• mixed baby greens - Feel free to use any lettuce you like. I love the mixed baby greens because they add slightly different flavors and colors to the salad.
• fresh basil leaves - Look for perky bunches of basil and avoid any brown, bruised or yellow leaves.
• seedless watermelon - Indications of a ripe watermelon are strong, consistent stripe pattern and a dull finish.
• feta cheese - Be sure to get a block of feta rather than crumbled. A block of Feta sold in brine is best. The reason a watermelon Feta salad is so popular is because of how amazing the salty feta is in combination with the juicy sweetness of the watermelon. However, if you'd like to use a substitute cheese, goat or blue cheese would also be delicious.
• avocado - Ripe avocados should yield to firm gentle pressure. It should feel slightly soft but not “mushy” to the touch.
• red onion - Choose onions that are firm, heavy for their size and without bruises.
• dried figs - Any variety. This is where this watermelon basil salad takes you on a twist! The figs add an unexpected chewy texture and sweet flavor. Substitutions: You can achieve a similar affect if you substitute the dried figs with dried cherries, dried blueberries or finely chopped dates.
• balsamic vinegar - Use your favorite!
• extra virgin olive oil - Use your favorite!

(See recipe card below for quantities.)

How to Make Watermelon Basil Salad

- In a large salad bowl, gently toss all of the ingredients together, except the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. (Here's How to Cut a Watermelon into Cubes, and How to Cut an Avocado.)

- Just before serving the Watermelon Basil Salad, drizzle the balsamic vinegar and olive oil over the salad, toss, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Variations

• If you want added crunch, pine nuts or pistachio nuts would be very tasty.
• To make this salad even heartier, you can add grilled chicken or shrimp.

Serving Suggestions

• This Watermelon Basil Salad recipe is one of my favorite summer side dish recipes, and it's also great for a vegetarian entrée salad.
• It's perfect for a picnic or barbecue -- really, any summer lunch or dinner.
• It's delicious alongside Grilled Coffee Balsamic Steak, Grilled Jalapeño Turkey Burgers, Shrimp Burgers with Cilantro, and/or Lemon-Pepper Grilled Corn.

Can you make it ahead?

As with most salads, it's best to cut and prepare the fresh ingredients as close to serving time as possible. That said, everything except the avocado can be prepped the night before if stored in an airtight container. The avocado can be cut up to an hour ahead — just drizzle it with fresh lemon or lime juice to keep it from browning.

More Summer Watermelon Recipes

• Watermelon Pizza with Lime
• Compressed Watermelon
• Watermelon Cucumber Salsa
• Grilled Chile-Lime Watermelon
• Watermelon Halloumi Salad Sandwich
• Fresh Melon Cake with Balsamic Glaze

Everyone loves watermelon recipes on hot summer days!

I hope you fall in love with this, and that it becomes one of your your go-to summer salad recipes.

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