16 Watermelon Salads That Are Perfect for Summer

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.

Arugula Salad With Potatoes and Green Beans

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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

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

Open-Face Omelets with Spicy Feta and Escarole

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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.

Charred Tomato Vinaigrette

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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.

Corn, Cucumber, and Feta Salad

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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.

Spicy Green Papaya Salad

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Grilled Watermelon with Avocado, Cucumber and Jalapeño Salsa

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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.

Thai Grilled Chicken with Cilantro Dipping 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.

Grilled & Marinated Tomatoes with Feta

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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.

Arugula and Mint Salad

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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.

Creamy Cucumber and Grilled Potato Salad

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Watermelon, Feta and Almond Salad

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

Quinoa with Spinach and Roasted 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.

Guacamole with Charred Jalapeño and Scallions

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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.

Minty Lime Baked Alaska

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Watermelon Salads That Are Perfect for Summer

1 of 16

Grilled Cobia Salad with Corn and Watermelon

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Grilled Watermelon with Yogurt

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Watermelon and Arugula Salad with Walnuts

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Marinated Watermelon with Whipped Feta

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Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Spicy Feta Sauce

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Watermelon and Charred-Tomato Salad

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Watermelon, Feta and Charred Pepper Salad

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Watermelon and Papaya Salad with Tequila Vinaigrette

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Grilled Watermelon with Avocado, Cucumber and Jalapeño Salsa

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Thai Chicken and Watermelon Salad

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Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint

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Curried Crab and Watermelon Salad with Arugula

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Watermelon Salad with Grilled Shrimp

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Watermelon, Feta and Almond Salad

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Caramelized Watermelon Salad with Pickled Jalapeños and Gorgonzola

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Watermelon Salad with Mint and Lime

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Grilled Cobia Salad with Corn and Watermelon 

Marinated Watermelon with Whipped Feta 