Watermelon Summer Salad

Hello everyone! Hope you all had a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend! Mine was spent in sunny Florida, and I don’t think we had a single day below 95 degrees. This past weekend was HOT and it inspired me to share one of my favorite summer recipes: Watermelon Summer Salad! 

My mom used to make this salad for me on hot summer days. I remember sitting by the pool, tasting the fresh-cut watermelon, and feeling the hot July sun on my skin. *sigh* Needless to say, these are exactly the kind of *summer vacation* vibes I need to cultivate, now that summer days mostly consist of sitting at a desk🙃.

But enough of my work week woes… This salad is AMAZING and I think you guys will really love this recipe. Of all of my healthy lunches, this one is one of my favorites. This dish very straightforward and it really does scream “SUMMER TIME!”

The spring mix and watermelon keep this lunch ultra light, while the feta, almonds, and chicken add plenty of calories and substance to keep you full till dinner time.  

Watermelon Do’s and Don’ts

Is it really summer if you haven’t sliced open your first watermelon? Absolutely not! 
Follow these tips to make the most of your melon in this recipe:

Buy a ripe watermelon.To pick out the BEST TASTING watermelon, pat the side of the watermelon a few times with your hand. You should hear a deep, hollow sound. If the sound is dull, the watermelon is likely under-ripe and won’t taste very good. 

Properly slice your melon. Check out my tutorial video below (in instructions)! I will show you the fastest way to cut your watermelon into bite sized pieces!

GO SEEDLESS! Save yourself the time and misery of picking out the seeds! 

Use leftovers! You will likely have leftover watermelon, so why let it go to waste?  Here are some a few fun summer watermelon recipes that I’ve been wanting to try! 

Watermelon Popsicles| Frozen Watermelon Ice| Watermelon Gelato 

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TWO-INGREDIENT, HOMEMADE VINAIGRETTE 

This red wine vinaigrette is a regular go-to for me. I love it because most store-bought salad dressings contain preservatives and added sugars. This dressing, on the other hand, is preservative-free, with no added sugars, AND only has TWO INGREDIENTS!

I also prefer salad dressings that are savory, rather than sweet, and this dressing perfectly hits the mark. If you don’t have red wine vinegar, any other wine vinegar will get the job done (balsamic, white wine, apple cider, sherry, etc.). 

SUBSTITUTIONS FOR YOUR SUMMER SALAD

To be honest, I wouldn’t change a thing about this salad because its extreeeeemely delish as is. BUT, I always like to provide a few substitutions for some of my pickier followers ;). 

• ALMONDS: If you dislike almonds, I recommend using walnuts instead. Similar crouton-y crunch and effect. 
• SPRING MIX: I like spring mix because it is really delicate and flavorful, but if you prefer, you can swap in romaine lettuce or plain spinach. 
• WATERMELON: Strawberries are in season this summer! If you swap them in, they’ll be just as bright as the watermelon. Great way to mix it up, too, even if you prefer the salad as is.
• FETA: I personally wouldn’t swap anything for feta, as the flavors and textures go so well with the rest of the salad! But if this is the one ingredient you don’t like, you could also do goat cheese, parmesan, or shredded mozzarella!

TIME AND MONEY SAVERS

Lastly, I wanted to leave you guys with a few money and time-saving recommendations.

For sliced almonds, I ALWAYS get my almonds from the baking isle.You can typically buy them in smaller packages, so they cost less, and will give you the perfect amount for a week of lunches. 

If you’re short on time, buy the pre-sliced watermelon and onions from the store. These may not taste as fresh or be as cheap as cutting it yourself, but it definitely gets the job done. As always, rotisserie chicken is an easy way to skip cooking the chicken yourself.