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A refreshing summer salad combining juicy watermelon, tangy feta cheese, salty Kalamata olives, fresh mint and parsley, with a lime and olive oil dressing, perfect for backyard BBQs or light lunches.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 2 limes, juiced (add more for stronger tang)
  • 9 ounces crumbled feta cheese
  • 3 pounds ripe watermelon, cut away from rind and seeded, chopped into ~1/4″ bite-sized chunks
  • 1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped (stems discarded)
  • 1 small bunch fresh mint, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup pitted, chopped Kalamata olives
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Sea salt (optional)

Instructions

  1. Slice or chop the red onion and place it in a small bowl.
  2. Pour the lime juice over the sliced red onion; let sit for a few minutes to marinate.
  3. Stir the olive oil into the onion and lime mixture until combined.
  4. Cut the watermelon away from the rind, seed as needed, and chop into ~1/4″ bite-sized chunks; place in a large bowl.
  5. Chop the flat-leaf parsley and mint and sprinkle them over the watermelon.
  6. Add the marinated red onion (with lime juice and olive oil), and the chopped Kalamata olives to the watermelon.
  7. Gently toss the salad by hand, taking care not to mash the watermelon chunks.
  8. Add the crumbled feta and freshly ground black pepper, then toss gently to combine.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning—add more lime juice and a pinch of sea salt if desired.

Notes

Kalamata olives can be expensive at regular grocery stores; buying large jars from Costco is cost-effective and they last a long time., When selecting watermelon, pick one that feels heavy for its size with a creamy yellow spot on the bottom indicating ripeness; avoid those with white or pale green spots., If you have organic watermelon, don’t discard the rind; it can be juiced or added to smoothies., A sprinkle of sea salt, especially smoked sea salt, can add a subtle smoky depth to the salad.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://gingerbaking.com/watermelon-feta-and-black-olive-salad-montana-happy/