Beat the Heat With This Simple Watermelon and Mint Salad
As summer sizzles on, what’s better than a chilled watermelon salad to help beat the heat?
We have a crop of wild fresh mint growing along our Lake Muskoka waterfront, and this salad has become an easy-to-make summer staple, using our mint to freshen the flavour with a blast of cool green.
It’s perfect for those summer days in Muskoka, when the lake is calling, and the last place you want to be is in the kitchen. You can easily gather up the ingredients and head outside to put together (and enjoy) this refreshing and nutritious meal!
Ingredients:
Honey-Lime Dressing:
- 1 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons high-quality extra virgin olive oil
- A pinch of salt and pepper
Watermelon Salad:
- ½ watermelon, peeled and cubed
- 1 cucumber, cubed (about 2 cups)
- 15 fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 1 cup cubed feta cheese (or more, if you're feeling extra cheesy)
Instructions:
1. Make the dressing in a small bowl, whisking together the honey, lime juice, olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside to blend.
2. Place the watermelon cubes in a sieve to drain the excess moisture. Let sit for about 10-15 mins.
3. Add watermelon, cucumber, feta and chopped mint in a large salad bowl and gently toss with the dressing to combine.
4. Serve immediately. This salad has a high water content, and doesn't keep well.
This salad is basic, but oh-so tasty! Feel free to have some fun and play around with the ingredients: add some sliced jalapeños if you like a little heat, or maybe some finely chopped shallots if you want even more flavour.
We may be imagining it, but meals seem to taste so much better when eaten outside in the summertime. Pair this salad with some BBQ chicken, a glass of your favourite dry rosé or white wine, and enjoy that beautiful Muskoka scenery. What could be better?
Stay cool, Muskoka friends!
