Name: Summer Watermelon and Lemon Cucumber Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/2 small watermelon (peeled and cubed); 4-6 lemon cucumbers (skin on and quartered); 4-6 medium heirloom tomatoes; 1 bunch mint leaves (stems removed (do not chop)); 1/2 cup feta (crumbled); Juice of one fresh lime; Drizzle of high quality olive oil; 1 pinch Maldon sea salt; 1 pinch fresh ground pepper

Summer Watermelon and Lemon Cucumber Salad. Photo by Jane Chapman.

This salad has all the juicy goodness of summer on one platter. I love that the ingredients may be sourced from one trip to the Santa Barbara Farmers Market. Be generous with the fresh mint, which is pinched right at the base of the stem and left whole to keep it from browning. Source a mix of heirloom tomatoes of different colors and varietals for bright pops of color and nuanced depth of flavor. This versatile salad may be made ahead and packed easily for a summer picnic or assembled quickly “a la minute” for a quick dinner after a lazy day at the beach. I garnished this salad with flowers from my homegrown strawberries.

Ingredients

½ small watermelon, peeled and cubed
4-6 lemon cucumbers, skin on and quartered
4-6 medium heirloom tomatoes
1 bunch mint leaves, stems removed (do not chop)
½ cup feta, crumbled
Juice of one fresh lime
Drizzle of high quality olive oil
1 pinch Maldon sea salt
1 pinch fresh ground pepper

Instructions

Prep the watermelon, lemon cucumbers, tomatoes and mint.
Crumble the feta on your serving platter and gently arrange by alternating the watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers and mint.
Once you are ready to serve, squeeze the fresh lime generously over the salad.
Drizzle the olive oil, and finish with salt and pepper.

Nutrition

Summer Watermelon and Lemon Cucumber Salad