Description
This Watermelon Pineapple Salad is a vibrant and refreshing summer delight that combines sweet and tangy fruits with crisp cucumber, fresh mint, and a zesty lime dressing. Perfect as a light side dish or a healthy snack, the optional feta cheese adds a savory contrast that enhances the salad’s tropical flavors. With minimal preparation and a chill time to meld flavors, this salad is ideal for hot days when you want something cool, hydrating, and full of freshness.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit and Vegetables
- 4 cups fresh watermelon, cubed
- 2 cups fresh pineapple, cubed
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
Dressing and Seasoning
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Prepare the Watermelon: Cut the watermelon in half, then into quarters. Cube the flesh, removing any seeds, to yield about 4 cups of watermelon cubes.
- Prepare the Pineapple: Cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple, slice off the skin, and cut it into quarters. Remove the core and cube the flesh to get about 2 cups of pineapple cubes.
- Prepare the Cucumber: Wash the cucumber thoroughly. Peel if desired, cut in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, and dice into small pieces.
- Prepare the Red Onion: Finely chop about 1/4 cup of red onion. To mellow the strong flavor, soak the chopped onion in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain.
- Chop the Mint: Stack the mint leaves, roll them up tightly, and slice thinly to yield about 1/4 cup of chopped mint.
- Prepare the Feta Cheese: Crumble feta cheese into small pieces if using.
- Combine Fruits and Vegetables: In a large mixing bowl, combine the watermelon, pineapple, cucumber, and red onion. Gently toss to mix all ingredients evenly.
- Add Mint and Feta: Sprinkle the chopped mint and crumbled feta over the fruit and vegetable mixture.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice and honey (if using) until well combined.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the lime dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Season: Add salt and pepper to taste, adjusting seasoning as desired.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and enhance.
- Final Toss and Serve: Before serving, toss the salad gently again to redistribute the dressing.
- Garnish and Enjoy: Garnish with whole mint leaves or additional feta if desired, then serve and enjoy this refreshing salad.
Notes
- Soaking the red onion in cold water helps mellow its sharpness and makes the salad more balanced.
- Feta cheese is optional but provides a nice salty contrast to the sweetness of the fruits.
- This salad is best served chilled and consumed within a day for optimal freshness.
- For a vegan version, omit the feta cheese and honey or use a plant-based honey alternative.
- Feel free to add a handful of toasted nuts or seeds for extra texture and nutrition.
