Watermelon Salads That Are Perfect for Summer

By Food & Wine
Updated June 27, 2018
John Kernick
A refreshing watermelon salad is perfect for hot summer days. Here, our favorite variations, from a classic watermelon-arugula salad to a watermelon and charred-tomato salad.
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Grilled Cobia Salad with Corn and Watermelon


John Kernick
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Chef Kevin Willmann of Farmhaus in St. Louis likes to grill cobia, a sweet, flaky whitefish, for this bright, refreshing salad.

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Grilled Watermelon with Yogurt

MARTIN MORRELL
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This modern take on the traditional Greek salad is a combination of watermelon and feta cheese, and is topped with creamy yogurt.

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Watermelon and Arugula Salad with Walnuts

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"In my hometown of Orosei, bitter greens like arugula and dandelion grow alongside watermelons, so this salad is a natural combination for me," says chef Efisio Farris. The recipe is a fabulous blend of juicy (watermelon) and crunchy (red onions and walnuts). For anyone who thinks raspberry vinegar went out with the '90s, this fruity vinaigrette will be a revelation.

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Marinated Watermelon with Whipped Feta


Eva Kolenko
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Let watermelon sit in a savory marinade of shallots, ginger, and champagne vinegar for 30 minutes to draw out the juices from the fruit and intensify its flavor.

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Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Spicy Feta Sauce

© Maura McEvoy
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The feta sauce is also terrific with Ana Sortun's Red Lentil Kofte.

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Watermelon and Charred-Tomato Salad

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Tim Byres uses a smart trick here: He sears the tomatoes on one side only, so they're fresh and smoky at the same time.

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Watermelon, Feta and Charred Pepper Salad

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Best New Chefs 2014 Joseph Ogrodnek and Walker Stern update the classic combination of watermelon, feta and olives with smoky charred shishito peppers, fresh herbs and spicy Korean red chile powder.

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Watermelon and Papaya Salad with Tequila Vinaigrette

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This refreshing and complex salad--made with jicama, watermelon, papaya and a bold tequila-based vinaigrette--usually includes little pieces of deep-fried tortilla rounds.

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Grilled Watermelon with Avocado, Cucumber and Jalapeño Salsa

© Con Poulos
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Grilling watermelon gives it a pleasantly smoky flavor. Here, F&W's Justin Chapple tops slabs of the sweet-smoky fruit with a cumin-spiked avocado salsa.

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Thai Chicken and Watermelon Salad

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For this recipe, summer watermelon and chicken come together in a puckery salad dressing made with lime juice and fish sauce.

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Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint

Tom Hopkins
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This easy summer salad is perfect to make for a cookout or party because there's no lettuce to get soggy. Jacques Pepin agrees. His friends Faith Middleton (host of NPR's The Food Schmooze) and veteran publicist Fern Berman once brought a watermelon salad to one of his parties. He loved it and was inspired to create this recipe.

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Curried Crab and Watermelon Salad with Arugula

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In this easy yet sophisticated recipe, chef Daniel Boulud pairs a curry-spiced crab salad with sweet watermelon and bright cilantro and mint.

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Watermelon Salad with Grilled Shrimp

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Chef Grant Achatz says of this salad: "I think shellfish benefits from a little sweetness." He suggests draining the fruit in a colander after you cut it, for a cleaner presentation.

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Watermelon, Feta and Almond Salad

© Christina Holmes
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Chef Scott Conant likes serving summer's juiciest, sweetest watermelon just with feta, salt and crunchy toasted almonds.

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Caramelized Watermelon Salad with Pickled Jalapeños and Gorgonzola

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Though he's known as the "prince of pork," chef Jason Vincent knows his way around a salad. His sugar-crusted watermelon resembles a seared rare tuna steak in this dynamic dish.

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Watermelon Salad with Mint and Lime

John Kernick
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Matt Neal calls this supremely simple fruit salad the ultimate refresher on a hot day. For a grown-up version, he adds splashes of rum. "It's even more satisfying, then," he jokes.

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