Watermelon Basil Salad

Chilled cubes of watermelon tossed with lemon juice, salt, and a hint of spice are topped with thin ribbons of basil in this watermelon basil salad. Whether you eat it as is or top it with goat cheese or feta, it is destined to be a surefire summer hit!

Packing a surprising amount of flavor, this light and refreshing summer salad is a perfect choice to accompany anything grilled. And since it’s grilling season, this is a salad recipe you want in your back pocket.

This is best the day it’s made, but is still very tasty if eaten within a day or two. Wait to top with cheese right before serving for the best results.

Watermelon salad is mercifully easy to make when you know how to cut watermelon. And if you don’t know, check out that link for easy step-by-step instructions.

Basil is such a great natural pairing with watermelon. Both are fragrant and floral but the basil brings a little peppery zing to complement the sweet melon.

You can choose to scatter a little feta or goat cheese on top of the salad for a little briny deliciousness just before serving, but that’s strictly optional. I love the creamy, saltiness with the sweet watermelon.

Watermelon salads go into heavy rotation around here when it’s warm. Some other favorites include two salads on the sweeter side of things.

Watermelon Fruit Salad; this colorful mix of watermelon, cherries, and berries tossed with a handful of fresh mint in a sweet, tangy honey lime dressing is hard to stop eating. And Watermelon with Ginger Lime Dressing is great as a light breakfast or afternoon snack.

What to Do with Leftover Watermelon

You only need 8 cups of cubed watermelon for this recipe. If you have a gigantic watermelon and are looking for more ideas to use the rest of the melon, look no further.

Watermelon and basil pair up again with strawberries in this ultra chill watermelon strawberry basil smoothie. And watermelon plays beautifully with tequila in the best watermelon margaritas.

Don’t leave the pups out of the fun, though. These watermelon dog treats are our dog’s favorite, especially in the summer.

Servings: 8

Place the watermelon in a large bowl and drizzle with lemon juice. Sprinkle salt and chili powder over the fruit and toss to coat.
Stack the basil leaves on top of each other and roll them into a tight cylindrical shape. Slice the basil to create very thin ribbon-like pieces. Sprinkle the basil over the watermelon and toss to mix throughout.
Refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese before serving, if desired.

Calories: 47kcal · Carbohydrates: 12g · Protein: 1g · Fat: 0.3g · Saturated Fat: 0.03g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g · Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g · Sodium: 149mg · Potassium: 178mg · Fiber: 1g · Sugar: 9g · Vitamin A: 955IU · Vitamin C: 13mg · Calcium: 13mg · Iron: 0.4mg