Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint

For this week's recipe, I'm serving up something new in my salad repertoire.  I've seen this salad at different picnics and have been intrigued.  What follows is a compilation of many recipes, and makes for one very easy, quite unique salad.  As a simple girl, I love the fact that I can create such an interesting salad with only a few ingredients - one of which is growing rampant in my yard!  (No complaints, though - that fresh mint also goes very well in a fresh mojito!)

For this Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint, you will need:

• 10 cups cubed watermelon (approx. 5 lb)
• 1/2 c. mint (approx. 40 leaves)
• 2 limes (oops!  are there three in the photo?)
• 1 c. crumbled feta
• 1/4 c. olive oil
• 1/2 t. kosher salt

Measure out 1/4 c. oil and pour into small bowl.

 

Juice two limes and pour into oil.

 

Measure a generous 1/2 t. salt and pour into oil/lime juice mixture.

 

Whisk together and set aside.

 

Now, to prepare the watermelon - does anybody else find it tricky to turn an oval into small squares?  I figured out this method to get the most even-sized cubes.

First, cut off the end of the watermelon.

 

Quarter the watermelon.

 

From the top of each quarter, make 1 inch slices down.

 

From each of these pieces, cut along the rind and remove.

 

Lay the remaining piece flat and cut 1 inch lengths.

 

Then, cut across these with more 1 inch cuts.

 

Repeat for the remaining quarters of watermelon - lovely 1 inch cubes of watermelon!  (If your watermelon is extra juicy, you can strain in a colander before mixing the remaining ingredients.)

 

Here's a handy way to cut your mint, too!  Rinse and dry approximately 40 leaves.

 

Stack your leaves (about 20 at a time) and pinch tight.

 

Use your kitchen shears to cut across the leaves to create thin strips.

Sprinkle your cut mint over the watermelon.

Sprinkle the feta over the watermelon.

Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat. 

 

There you have it!  A simple summer treat that perfectly blends sweet, salty, citrus and spice for such a flavor explosion!  Try it with some spicy grilled chicken.

Have fun surprising your friends with something new and different!