Let’s face it. Watermelon is really an amazing, yummy tasting fruit. Sweet, fresh, fruity, with cucumber notes. But when you mix in sweet and spicy fresh basil, crisp red onions, salty feta, peppery arugula, crunchy, buttery pine nuts and the sweet and tangy red wine and honey vinaigrette the explosion of flavor is like a pool emptying cannon ball splash! This summer salad will easily replace all other fruit salad options especially since it takes less than 15 minutes to put together. But if you are looking for more options, my Peach Salad and Strawberry Poppyseed Salad are always a hit too!
Ingredient Notes
For the ingredient measurements and entire recipe, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the blog post where the recipe card is located.
Watermelon: A ripe and sweet watermelon is key. See my notes below on picking the perfect watermelon! Fresh basil: this sweet, slightly spicy herb pairs perfectly with watermelon. If you don’t have fresh basil, you can also substitute fresh mint. Red onion: The bright color and sweet and spicy flavor also add a nice crunch to the watermelon salad. Feta or ricotta salata: The saltiness and creamy texture of feta mixes so well with the sweetness of the watermelon. And if you can get your hands on ricotta salata, it’s sweet and salty Arugula: The peppery and spicy flavors of arugula make this a must to add to this flavorful salad. Don’t substitute other salad greens because you will be disappointed in their lack of flavor. Pine nuts: Pine nuts have a mild, buttery taste, and their light crunch adds a nice surprise to this salad. Flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper: Bring out the full sweet and salty flavors of this salad with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Dressing: you will need olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey.
