Watermelon Goat Cheese Salad

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

Juicy watermelon, creamy goat cheese, and a handful of fresh ingredients make this refreshing salad come together in minutes. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, ideal for a quick summer lunch or as a side at your next barbecue.

In the printable recipe below, you can find a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

• Watermelon: For this salad, pick a seedless watermelon. For the best flavor, choose a ripe watermelon that feels heavy for its size and has a yellow spot on the bottom where it sat on the ground. It also shouldn’t have any bruises or dents, but a few scratches are okay.
• English cucumber: We like English cucumbers for their cool crunch and mild flavor, but feel free to experiment with other cucumber varieties. Their thinner skin and fewer seeds make them our preference, but if you’re using regular cucumbers, simply peel and deseed them for a similar effect.
• Goat cheese: The creamy, tangy goat cheese provides a delicious contrast to the sweet watermelon. For the best texture in the salad, we recommend using a soft, crumbly variety. You can also use crumbled feta cheese.
• Arugula: We love arugula. Its peppery flavor adds a nice bite and fresh color to the salad. If you find arugula too strong, substitute it with baby spinach for a milder flavor.
• Mint leaves: Fresh mint leaves bring the salad a cooling, refreshing taste. You can use basil for a different but equally delicious flavor profile.
• Red onion: It adds a sharp, savory note that balances the salad’s sweet and tangy flavors. To mellow the onion’s bite, soak the slices in cold water for about 10 minutes before adding them to the salad.
• Olive oil: Use good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor – you’ll really taste the difference in this fresh salad.
• Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice brightens the whole salad. Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice rather than bottled for the best flavor.
• Balsamic glaze: This adds a touch of sweetness and complexity to the salad. We purchased a bottle from Trader Joe’s, but if you can’t find balsamic glaze, you can make your own by simmering balsamic vinegar until it reduces and thickens.

How to Make Watermelon and Goat Cheese Salad

Here are the quick step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions with the exact ingredients in the recipe card below.
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Pro-tip: For an extra flavor boost, grill the watermelon cubes for 1-2 minutes per side before adding them to the salad – this caramelizes the sugars and adds a subtle smoky note.

1. Prep the watermelon (Optional): To add an extra flavor boost and remove some water, sprinkle the cubed watermelon with a couple of teaspoons of kosher salt and gently toss them. Let them sit in a fine-mesh strainer or colander over a bowl for about 20-30 minutes. This helps concentrate the watermelon flavor and remove excess water so the salad doesn’t get too watery. Once time’s up, discard the liquid.

2. Toss it all together: In a large serving bowl, gently mix your watermelon cubes with the sliced cucumber, crumbled goat cheese, arugula, fresh mint leaves, and a bit of sliced red onion. 

3. Add dressing: Drizzle the salad with olive oil, balsamic glaze, and fresh lemon juice. This simple dressing complements the watermelon and goat cheese well.

4. Finish and serve: Taste your salad and adjust with salt and pepper, if needed. Give it a final gentle toss, and this tasty watermelon goat cheese salad is ready to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions