Watermelon, Feta, and Basil Salad Recipe

You may agree or disagree – but Salads offer a great variety to most meals. But, let’s be real, simply eating bowls full of lettuce or fruit alone can get…stale. We continue to explore countless ways you can enjoy Mike’s Hot Honey and decided to put a unique spin on the traditional salad.  This watermelon salad with feta and basil brings together touches of sweet heat and savory notes to this complimentary side dish. Now, you can enjoy eating a delicious salad that you feel good about while feeling full and satisfied, especially during those steamy days of summer.

Next up, you have your Feta cheese, which adds a tangy umami flavor making the salad more filling. Finally, basil delivers a fresh, herbal taste while providing a variety of vitamins and minerals. And finishing with the recipe's Watermelon is light and refreshing and exudes summer vibes with each juicy crisp bite. main ingredient topper, we are elevating this salad by drizzling the Original Mike’s Hot Honey for an added element of savory flavor.

One of the best things about this salad is that it is incredibly easy to make as it is to eat, which you'll see in the recipe that follows. Whether you are entertaining friends at a summer barbecue or preparing a light meal for yourself to beat the heat, this watermelon feta salad recipe fits the bill. Friends, try eating it on its own or as a counterbalance to your favorite summer barbecue fare, like burgers and hot dogs. Don’t hesitate to elevate the flavor of your barbecue mains by drizzling them off with chili-infused Original Mikes Hot Honey.

How to Make a Watermelon Salad with Basil and Feta

Once you see quick and easy this salad is to prepare – a Mikes Hot Honey watermelon Feta salad may become one of your summer staple side dishes.   This savory and sweet salad makes it easy to added enjoy time with your friends and loved ones rather than being going through a multi-step process in the kitchen. Before we start up let's take it back to basics and put you onto with the different ways to customize the salad to suit your taste.

At first thought you may be thinking to yourself – how and why does this watermelon feta salad works so well together as it is. The sweetness of the watermelon, salty tang of the feta, and refreshing herbal flavor of the basil all complement each other, making the dish feel cohesive and complete.

And then that final drizzle of Mike's Hot Honey is the kicker that livens everything up in this salad with just the right amount of spicy heat. You might not think spicy food and hot weather go together, but as science would have it, the internal heat that Mike’s hot Honey creates in your body actually helps you feel cooler, so our chili-infused honey is just what you might need to feel refreshed during the summer days.

To switch things up a bit, as you will undoubtedly want to make this salad over and over again, try adding other fresh ingredients. For example, watermelon cucumber feta salad is a great option, and other types of melons, like cantaloupe or honeydew, work great as well. Be sure to counter any additional fruit with more feta, basil, and Mikes Hot Honey to keep everything balanced.

Now, you’re ready to move on to the recipe and we’ve included some helpful tips and tricks to get your side or main dish right.

The Perfect Summer Salad

Unlike winter salads, which tend to skew more savory, summer salads are designed to be light and refreshing to help keep you cool in the heat. This watermelon feta salad with basil is perfect for snacking on at the beach, a picnic, a backyard barbecue, or any time you choose to have a summer function. Because watermelons are so large, it is easy to make enough to feed a crowd. To give yourself and your guests more variety, try serving this salad alongside our other summer salad recipes and foods:

• Hot Honey Orzo Summer Salad
• Honey Grilled Corn on the Cob
• Hot Honey Shrimp
• Honey Hot Wings

Cooking Instructions

Chop the watermelon into bite-size chunks and remove any visible seeds. Place in a large salad bowl or on a serving platter.Mix in the feta, basil and red onion and season. (The seeds are fine to eat, so this step is for aesthetic purposes only. Feel free to leave the seeds in if you prefer or wish to shorten prep time.)

Crumble feta cheese over the top, ensuring it is evenly distributed over the watermelon. Do the same with the red onion.\

Toss in the basil leaves, again ensuring even distribution. You can also arrange the basil on the platter first and then spread the watermelon over the top to mix up the presentation of the dish.

Drizzle with olive oil. A light coating is all you need to help the flavors all meld together. Take care not to go overboard with the oil, as this can leave your salad soggy and unappetizing.

Season with salt and pepper to suit your taste. Because the feta cheese is already a bit salty, you likely won't need much additional salt, but feel free to be liberal with the pepper, as the heat will balance out the sweetness of the watermelon.

The final step is to add a healthy drizzle of Mike's Hot Honey over the top of everything. Not only will this give your salad an appealing shine, but it'll also add the kick of spice that truly takes this watermelon feta salad recipe to the next level.

If you don't plan to eat the salad right away, hold off on steps 4-6. Cover the salad in a bowl and store in the refrigerator.

Then, when you are ready to serve, finish it off with the oil, seasoning, and hot honey. Once the watermelon has been cut, it will stay fresh in the fridge if covered for about 3-5 days.

To ensure your salad is as fresh as possible, it is best to cut the watermelon as close as possible to when you plan to actually use it. The longer you leave the watermelon after cutting it, the more juice will drain out from it, potentially leaving it looking soggy and wilted – and who wants that?

As with any salad, the fresher the better!