![Curry Tomatoes and Chickpeas With Cucumber Yogurt](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/07/09/multimedia/AS-curried-chickpeas-with-tomatoes-and-yogurtrex-ktvc/AS-curried-chickpeas-with-tomatoes-and-yogurtrex-ktvc-mediumThreeByTwo440.jpg?width=1280&quality=75&auto=webp)
Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad
![Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/07/08/science/08recipehealth/08recipehealth-articleLarge.jpg?width=1280&quality=75&auto=webp)
- Total Time
- 10 minutes
- Rating
- Notes
- Read community notes
Advertisement
Ingredients
- 1small red onion, sliced
- 3large or 4 smaller 1-inch-thick slices watermelon
- 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2tablespoons sherry vinegar
- Salt to taste
- 2tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- 2ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- ¼ to ½teaspoon Aleppo pepper or mild chili powder (to taste)
Preparation
- Step 1
Place sliced onion in a bowl and cover with water and 1 teaspoon of the vinegar. Soak 5 minutes, then drain and rinse. Drain on paper towels.
- Step 2
Prepare a medium-hot grill. Use 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to brush the watermelon slices lightly. Grill for about 3 minutes per side, or until charred. Remove from heat and dice. Transfer, with juice, to a large salad bowl.
- Step 3
Add onions and remaining ingredients and toss together. Let sit for a few minutes or for up to an hour before serving. Toss again just before serving.
- Step 4
- Advance preparation: The completed salad can be made an hour or two before serving. Or you can grill the watermelon right before you assemble and serve the salad so that the watermelon is hot.
Private Notes
Cooking Notes
This was a big hit, but next time I won't dress it in advance - the vinegar made quick work of dissolving the watermelon and feta and I ended up with soup in the bottom of the salad bowl.
Too lazy/time pressed to grill the watermelon; just chopped it and used it fresh. Does NOT keep - the watermelon just "melts." For a party: Put the watermelon, feta, mint, and onion in large container. Just as the burgers come off the grill, put a bunch of baby arugula in a wide but not deep salad bowl (not called for here but yummy and pretty). Then add the dressing to the watermelon etc., toss gently, then transfer to the top of the arugula. Everybody loved it!!
Don't bother grilling the watermelon - it weakens the flavour making it taste more like squash, and texture is meh. Think it would be way better raw.
After reading the notes I skipped grilling the watermelon and dressed this as my final step in meal prep - was the favorite at dinner
Ugh, grilling the watermelon made it taste like squash. My family was not impressed with the results.
As other commenters have said, the vinegar dressing makes quick work of watermelon. In all the hot weather lately I’ve needed super fresh, super quick lunches. Simplifying this recipe I’ve been having just watermelon, feta and torn mint. It doesn’t need anything else. The sweet, fresh melon is perfect against the tangy, salty cheese and the mint just makes it a liiiiittle more grown up. Totally delicious!!
Rather than using dressing (olive oil and sherry vinegar), just use pickled red onion. The dressing is not needed here. Heck, I often make this without onion at all. For me, the import thing is to cut the watermelon in a bite size chunk where you can get a bit of feta and mint with it. I always sprinkle Tajin over the whole thing.
Delicious! Sliced onions very thin and dressed with red wine vinegar. Grilled thick cut watermelon triangles for a minute each side and cut onto cubes. Mixed with feta, mint and onions just before serving. Added salt no chili powder. Did not add any additional vinegar or oil. Came out perfect!
I like the overall flavor profile, but honestly did not enjoy the grilled watermelon. The char was nice but it also took on a limp, slightly slimy texture. Perhaps left it on the grill for too long?
vinegar only to marinade onion, less olive oil, drain extra juice to desired amount, thick cut watermelon for grill, chipotle for chile, add feta right before serving
Too lazy/time pressed to grill the watermelon; just chopped it and used it fresh. Does NOT keep - the watermelon just "melts." For a party: Put the watermelon, feta, mint, and onion in large container. Just as the burgers come off the grill, put a bunch of baby arugula in a wide but not deep salad bowl (not called for here but yummy and pretty). Then add the dressing to the watermelon etc., toss gently, then transfer to the top of the arugula. Everybody loved it!!
Great with grilled haloumi too!
This was a big hit, but next time I won't dress it in advance - the vinegar made quick work of dissolving the watermelon and feta and I ended up with soup in the bottom of the salad bowl.
I really enjoyed this, but my family wasn't as enthusiastic. They like their watermelon plain, no frills.
Advertisement