Watermelon Cucumber Salad Recipe

This watermelon cucumber salad recipe is our recommendation for a hot summer’s day. As you may have guessed already, watermelon and cucumber are the two juicy and refreshing main ingredients of this salad. For additional flavor, we use a sweet and tangy honey mustard dressing.

Give this bright and vibrant salad a try and experience your own piece of a Mediterranean summer.

Is Watermelon Cucumber Salad Healthy?

Yes, we believe our watermelon cucumber salad is healthy, as it adheres to our nutrition guidelines.

This salad can support weight loss as there are only 151 calories in a serving. Furthermore, this dish contains only 2.4 g of saturated fat and 12.6 mg of cholesterol.

The level of sodium is also kept low at 198.2 mg thanks to the use of fresh ingredients.

Watermelon contains many nutrients, lycopene being one of them. Its many functions include potential anticancer effects, supporting heart health, and working with antioxidants to help lower inflammation. Its vitamin C content may also support skin health.

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Cucumber has nutrients of its own too. Its high level of vitamin K promotes bone health, and it is also rich in antioxidants that may play a role in preventing cancer, heart, or lung diseases. 

Both watermelon and cucumber promote hydration thanks to their high water content.

Ingredients You Will Need

• For the salad

Watermelon is one of the most sought-after fruits during the summer. It is revitalizing, juicy and sweet, and looks beautiful.

Cucumber is both similar and different from watermelon as it’s also refreshing and crunchy. However, its flavor is much more mild and subtle.

Unlike the common renditions of salad, watermelon cucumber salad does not feature any leafy greens. So the great appeal of this salad is the crunchy and juicy experience that comes with its two main ingredients.

• For the dressing

The perfect dressing unifies elements but also adds other layers of flavor to a salad. And in this dish, we’re going with a classic honey mustard dressing.

Aside from honey and mustard, it also features balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and pepper. The combination adds both umami and sweet notes to the salad as well as a greater depth of flavor.

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• Garnish and toppings

We chose feta cheese, dried cranberries, and mint leaves.

Feta cheese adds its signature saltiness and grainy texture to the salad. Dried cranberries are sweet and tangy with a chewy texture similar to raisins. And lastly, mint leaves offer a bright and bold essence.

Tips to Make

The best salad has a crisp, fresh texture as well as taste. 

• How do you keep the salad from getting soggy?

Storing salads in airtight containers and making sure that the salad is dry helps to prevent it from turning watery.

• How do you keep cucumbers crisp after cutting?

You can store cucumbers with paper towels on top of the slices to soak up excess moisture. If you have a cucumber with one sliced end, cover that end with plastic wrap.

What to Serve With

This simple salad goes well with grilled meat or seafood. It can also be a great sidekick for burgers, sandwiches, or pasta. Lastly, it makes a perfect picnic dish.

How to Store the Leftovers

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You can refrigerate watermelon cucumber salad leftovers in airtight containers for up to 2 days. Make sure that you drain the liquid and check the quality of the salad before serving.

How to Make Watermelon Cucumber Salad

5 from 2 votes

Our watermelon cucumber salad recipe makes a perfect summer side dish with two refreshing main ingredients and a honey mustard dressing.

- by Tuyet Pham, Luna Regina, 2022-08-08

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• cook TIME 10 mins
• prep TIME 12 mins
• total TIME 22 mins

• COURSE Side Dish
• CUISINE Global
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 151 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 18 oz watermelon (seedless, cubed)
• 6 oz cucumber (sliced)
• 2 oz feta cheese (cubed)
• 1 oz dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup mint leaves
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp traditional Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/2 tsp pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

Prep

1

The first step in every salad is washing the ingredients thoroughly for safety reasons. For watermelon and cucumber, simply rinse them under running water, then dry them with paper towels or a clean cloth.

2

Watermelon:

- Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise.

- Cut the halves in half again to make 4 quarters.

- Make a crosshatch pattern on each of the quarters: Cut downwards from the open-face top to the rind and cut horizontally from one side to the other.

- Cut along the rind and the cubes will fall out.

3

Cucumber:

- Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise

- Use a spoon and scrape out the seeds.

- Place the cucumber on the cutting board with the cut-side down and slice it.

4

Feta cheese: Cut a crosshatch pattern on your feta cheese block, the same as the watermelon but smaller.

Cook

1

Make the dressing: Add 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp traditional Dijon mustard, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1/2 tsp pepper, and 1 tbsp olive oil.

2

Mix until combined.

3

Assemble the salad with 6 oz cucumber, 18 oz watermelon, 1/4 cup mint leaves, 1 oz cranberries, and 2 oz feta cheese, in that order.

4

Dress the salad and enjoy.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

How to Make Watermelon Cucumber Salad

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 151Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g

11%

Saturated Fat 2.4g

15%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 2mg

1%

Sodium 198mg

9%

Potassium 243mg

7%

Carbohydrate 21g

7%

Fiber 1g

4%

Sugar 16g

18%

Protein 3g

6%

Vitamin A 891IU

18%

Vitamin C 12mg

15%

Calcium 96mg

10%

Iron 1mg

6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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