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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Salad

    Kale, Watermelon and Feta Salad

    Published: Jul 19, 2018 · Modified: Sep 14, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 74 Comments

    1293 shares
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    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free / Low Carb / Vegetarian
    Cubes of watermelon on a white plate
    Kale and watermelon salad on a plate with a text title overlay.

    This Kale, Watermelon Feta Salad is refreshing, super simple and packed full of all the good stuff. With its sweet and salty combination, it's the perfect side dish for your next BBQ. We are firm believers that salads never have to be boring. If you think they are, then you aren't making them right.

    A salad made up of kale, watermelon and feta cheese on a blue plate.

    This might seem like a strange combination, but trust us on this one - it really works. The saltiness of the feta and the dressing pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the watermelon. The kale makes the perfect super green base and finishing off with a sprinkle of pecans adds plenty of crunch. 

    Looking for more ways to get some kale in your diet? Why not try our Kale Smoothie, Air Fryer Kale, or Kale Crisps (such a delicious salty snack)?

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • Health benefits of watermelon
    • Salad dressing
    • Kale Alternative
    • Salad toppings
    • What to serve it with
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More salad recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • A delicious new salad to try
    • A great way to use up watermelon
    • Easy to adapt
    • A delicious BBQ side dish

    Ingredients needed

    Watermelon slices, kale, feta, pecans, oil and lemon on a wooden board.
    • Kale - We used curly kale as it is the easiest to find in shops. You could use black kale (also known as lacinato kale or cavolo nero), or a mixture of both.
    • Watermelon - Try to pick a watermelon that has a yellow to dark yellow patch in the skin (this is the part of the melon that was resting on the ground while growing). This indicates the ripeness of the melon - light or no yellow patch means it isn't ripe enough. A skin that is dull, rather than shiny is preferable too. And discard if the skin has large brown patches.
    • Feta - A good quality feta is a must. Make sure it is labelled 'feta' rather than 'Greek salad cheese'.
    • Nuts - We used chopped pecans as they compliment the flavours well, however cashews or even peanuts will work well.
    • Dressing - We went with a simple dressing made up of oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. This dressing softens the kale but lets the flavour come through.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: Roughly chop the kale, wash well and put in a large bowl.

    A metal bowl containing chopped raw kale.

    Two: Add the olive oil, cider vinegar, lemon juice, garlic and salt and pepper to the kale and mix well.

    A metal bowl containing chopped raw kale covered in a dressing.

    Three: Add the watermelon and feta and gently mix.

    A metal bowl containing chopped raw kale, chopped watermelon and crumbled feta.

    Four: Serve in to a bowl and top with the crumbled pecans.

    A plate of kale, watermelon and feta salad.

    Health benefits of watermelon

    Watermelon is a fruit with lots of health benefits. Firstly, it is a great way to stay hydrated in the summer as it is 92% water. Fruits that have a high water content will help you to stay fuller for longer too.

    As well as being low in calories, watermelon is also high in vitamins C and A, which are great for skin and hair health. This watermelon feta salad is bursting with goodness.

    Salad dressing

    You don't want anything too overpowering because the watermelon and feta are pretty strong flavours. We just used a drizzle of olive oil, some cider vinegar and lemon juice. You can add some extra sweetness with a drizzle of balsamic glaze when serving.

    Cubes of watermelon, crumbled feta and chopped pecans on a bed of kale leaves.

    Kale Alternative

    You might not have had kale in a salad before, but it's one of my favourite greens in a salad. It has so much more texture and bite to it than lettuce, not to mention more nutritional benefits. Plus, look at that vibrant green colour.

    If you usually find raw kale chewy, then you might prefer this salad because the dressing really softens it up, especially if you leave it for 30 minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients.

    If you really aren't a fan of kale, then you could use rocket (arugula) or spinach instead.

    A pile of curly kale on a wooden board.

    Salad toppings

    I think one of the reasons so many people think salads are boring is because they lack texture. We combat that by always adding something crunchy on top like the pecans in this watermelon and feta salad recipe.

    Whilst croutons are a classic crunchy salad topping, why not change things up and go with nuts like pecans, almond flakes or cashews? You could even use seeds like sunflower, pumpkin or linseed.

    What to serve it with

    This is a delicious side salad and a great way to really add some freshness to a meal. Here are some of our favourite mains to serve this watermelon feta salad with:

    • Honey and Mustard Salmon
    • Spanish Bean Stew
    • Perfect Roast Chicken
    • Homemade Fish Fingers
    • BBQ Chicken Pizza
    • Baked Chicken Burger
    • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
    • Easy Chicken Traybake
    A blue plate with Kale, Feta and Watermelon Salad.

    FAQs

    Can a watermelon feta salad be made in advance?

    Yes, you can chop everything up and mix it in advance and make the dressing in advance. Then, just before you are ready to serve it, mix the dressing in to the salad. You don't want to add the dressing in advance, because the salad will go soggy.
    If you have leftovers, you can store them in an air tight container in the fridge until the next day, however it is best to eat it right away because it is such a watery salad.

    What other cheese can you use?

    I think it's clear how much we love feta by now, but you know what we also love? Halloumi! It's a cheese that squeaks when you eat it and what's not to love about that?
    Halloumi is best when grilled as it holds its flavour and has a real meaty texture to it. Add a few slices to this salad instead of feta for a filling meal.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • If you aren't a feta fan , then grilled halloumi makes a great substitution. It gives the dish much more of a meaty texture and feels more like a whole meal rather than a side dish.
    • Speaking of grilling, grilled watermelon is amazing. It really brings out the flavour, changes the texture and makes a great addition to this salad. Just cut the watermelon in to bigger chunks/slices to that it doesn't fall through the grill.
    • We haven't added any herbs to this recipe, but in the past we have used fresh mint in it and it pairs beautifully with the watermelon and feta.
    • Another delicious addition to this salad is some olives. It gives a little bit of extra saltiness, along with the feta, that contrasts the sweetness of the watermelon.
    • Not got enough greens in this? Add some chunks of cucumber or celery for some added texture and to make it even more refreshing.
    • If you are all about the sweetness in a salad, then swap the apple cider vinegar for balsamic vinegar. Or, add a drizzle of pomegranate molasses at the end.
    • Add some fresh mint when serving to make this a really light summer salad.
    • Make this salad even chunkier by adding some diced cucumber.

    More salad recipes

    • Italian Chopped Salad with Parma Ham in a large white bowl.
      Italian Chopped Salad
    • Roasted Cauliflower Salad in a white bowl, surrounded by lemon wedges and chickpeas
      Roasted Cauliflower Salad
    • Goat's Cheese and Pumpkin Salad in a large round bowl.
      Goats Cheese and Pumpkin Salad
    • Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad in a large round bowl.
      Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad

    If you’ve tried this watermelon salad recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    A plate with salad surrounded by watermelon slices

    Kale, Feta and Watermelon Salad

    By: Dannii
    This Kale, Feta and Watermelon Salad is refreshing, super simple and packed full of all the good stuff. With its sweet and salty combination, it's the perfect side dish for your next BBQ.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    The words low carb in a white circle.
    Low Carb
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    4.97 from 65 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: British
    Prep: 5 mins
    Total: 5 mins
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 138kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
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    Nuts
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    Sulphites
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 100 g (3.5 oz) Curly kale - chopped
    • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
    • 0.5 Lemon - (juice only)
    • 2 Garlic clove - crushed
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
    • 10 Pecans - crumbled
    • 280 g (2 cups) watermelon - diced
    • 60 g (0.5 cups) Feta

    Instructions

    • Roughly chop the kale, wash well and put in a large bowl.
    • Add the olive oil, cider vinegar, lemon juice, garlic and salt and pepper to the kale and mix well.
    • Add the watermelon and feta and gently mix.
    • Serve in to a bowl and top with the crumbled pecans.

    Notes

    • If you aren't a feta fan , then grilled halloumi makes a great substitution. It gives the dish much more of a meaty texture and feels more like a whole meal rather than a side dish.
    • Speaking of grilling, grilled watermelon is amazing. It really brings out the flavour, changes the texture and makes a great addition to this salad. Just cut the watermelon in to bigger chunks/slices to that it doesn't fall through the grill.
    • We haven't added any herbs to this recipe, but in the past we have used fresh mint in it and it pairs beautifully with the watermelon and feta.
    • Another delicious addition to this salad is some olives. It gives a little bit of extra saltiness, along with the feta, that contrasts the sweetness of the watermelon.
    • Not got enough greens in this? Add some chunks of cucumber or celery for some added texture and to make it even more refreshing.
    • If you are all about the sweetness in a salad, then swap the apple cider vinegar for balsamic vinegar. Or, add a drizzle of pomegranate molasses at the end.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 210mg | Potassium: 174mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2950IU | Vitamin C: 47.9mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 0.7mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristine

      July 30, 2018 at 2:58 pm

      5 stars
      This is my kind of salad! Perfect for summertime, pinning this one to make!

      Reply
    2. Edyta at Eating European

      July 24, 2018 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      Watermelon and feta goes hand in hand. I love this combo. I never added kale to mine and I think it's a great idea.

      Reply
    3. Beth

      July 24, 2018 at 2:56 pm

      5 stars
      This salad looks so delicious! The watermelon and feta must be glorious together! Salty and Sweet! I'm definitely giving this one a try! Thanks!

      Reply
    4. Lisa

      July 24, 2018 at 12:57 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a lovely flavor combination for a salad!

      Reply
    5. danielle wolter

      July 23, 2018 at 11:56 am

      5 stars
      I looooove putting feta on salads. This is such a great idea!

      Reply
    6. kim

      July 23, 2018 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      Love watermelon and this looks so good!! Will be making these for sure!

      Reply
    7. Lisa

      July 23, 2018 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      I love the idea of adding in some watermelon to a salad. This is such a great dish for summer.

      Reply
    8. Linda Nortje

      July 23, 2018 at 11:24 am

      5 stars
      As we are huge salad lovers in South-Africa, I can not wait to make your kale and watermelon salad, especially since there is feta in as well (which is a #1 fave in our house!)

      Reply
    9. angie

      July 20, 2018 at 9:56 pm

      looks very pretty and refreshing perfect summer time salad

      Reply
    10. Traci

      July 19, 2018 at 7:31 pm

      5 stars
      Watermelon and feta...such a yummy summer staple. And kale too? You're a girl after my own heart! I'll have to try that...just pinned for later. Thanks!

      Reply
    11. rebecca

      July 19, 2018 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      this looks delicious! love the flavor combo of watermelon & feta! yum

      Reply
    12. Linda

      July 19, 2018 at 6:26 pm

      5 stars
      Watermelon and feta is always a huge hit at our house! I need to try the halloumi variation you suggested.

      Reply
    13. Lauren Vavala @ DeliciousLittleBites

      July 19, 2018 at 6:17 pm

      5 stars
      I've never had watermelon saald, but this looks delicious! I love the feta and pecans!

      Reply
    14. Lisa Huff

      July 19, 2018 at 6:07 pm

      5 stars
      This is my kind of salad! Love the idea of adding watermelon to a salad in the summer!

      Reply
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