This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pompeian for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
A light, healthy, and refreshing salad recipe featuring watermelon, pickled onions, feta cheese, pine nuts, and a sweet honey balsamic reduction. This Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad is perfect for spring!
What I’m about to say is going to leave me vulnerable to both judgement and ridicule. Be gentle. I may look tough and full of muscular brawn on the outside, but I have a fragile core.
I’ve avoided watermelon for pretty much... forever. Same goes for olives, cherries, and anything else that had a pit or large seeds. Super weird, I know. But the thought of biting down on a pit just freaks me out. And the whole spitting the seeds out just isn't my thing. Gross.
And I guess because of the whole irrational fear of seeds thing (I wonder if there is a real diagnosable phobia for that…), I never grew an affinity for watermelon. Even seedless.
But then I saw a watermelon salad on a restaurant menu and was super intrigued. Not intrigued enough to spend the money on ordering it (too much risk involved considering one of main ingredients was indeed watermelon), but I’ve been wanting to try to make a version of the salad at home ever since. And that time is now.
So did you know it’s National Vinegar Month and National Salad Month? Me neither.
But hey, when Pompeian Balsamic Vinegar asks you to celebrate, you listen. I’m always down for a good party, even if watermelon is invited 😉
My absolute favorite way to enjoy balsamic vinegar is by slowly reducing it on the stove, creating a sweet and sticky syrupy glaze. I almost always have a squeeze bottle of it in the fridge, so it’s always at the ready when duty calls.
If you don't have feta on hand, feel free to try goat cheese. That would be delicious as well. Just don't skip the pickled onions. It adds a whole other level of flavor awesomeness to this salad.
And hey, want more #DressingItUp inspiration? For additional recipe ideas, you can visit the Pompeian website.
Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad
- Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ tablespoon honey
- Baby Arugula
- Seedless watermelon, cubed
- Pickled Red Onions
- Feta cheese, crumbled
- Pine nuts
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine balsamic vinegar and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat until just boiling. Reduce heat to low (a slow simmer is what you're after), stir occasionally, and let simmer until reduced by at least half. The balsamic will continue to thicken as it cools. Once completely cool, store in the refrigerator. I like to keep mine in a little plastic squeeze bottle.
- Drizzle arugula with a little bit of olive oil and season with Kosher salt. Top with cubed watermelon, pickled red onions, feta cheese, and pine nuts. Drizzle generously with the balsamic reduction. Devour immediately.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
Tina
Yum, this looks awesome! I've always been curious about the whole watermelon-feta combo thing...will have to give this a try!
Chris
Definitely give it a try Tina! Let me know if you like it!
Helen
Watermelon and feta is a classic combo in Greece, so I know it's good. Love the other additions (especially those pickled onions) and the fact that this is super easy and yet classy. 🙂
Chris
Those pickled onions totally make the salad. Man I love pickled onions. Could eat them on almost anything haha!
Ashley
I loveeee watermelon salads! I'm pretty sure I order one anytime I see it on a menu at a restaurant! This looks delicious ... mmm balsamic glaze.
Chris
Thanks Ashley! My wife is pretty obsessed with watermelon. I had to keep swatting her hands away from trying to steal it off the cutting board haha
Sarah
Yum - I love fruit mixed with balsamic! I hope this recipe changed your mind a bit about watermelon? 🙂 The key is definitely finding the sweetest most juicy watermelon and then you'll forget about any watermelon seeds planting in your tummy.
Chris
I liked the salad a lot. I'm willing to give watermelon a shot in the future 😉 hahaha
Nicole
Haha, I'm totally laughing at your see/pit phobia! Just kidding. If we are sharing weird food isdues today, I feak out if I get food or grease on my face while eating. Oh, and the salad looks good 🙂
Chris
Yea yea, laugh it up Nicole! Hahaha. That's not a weird food issue... having grease on your face is no bueno no matter who you are!
whatjessicabakednext
This looks amazing- I love the flavours! This would be great to try out during the Summer! 🙂
Chris
Thanks so much Jessica!
Kelly - LEFT SIDE OF THE TABLE
First off...say what?? It's national salad month?? Oh my goodness, I must post a salad before the months over. How did I miss this, i'm salad obsessed. Secondly...I don't think it's too strange you avoided things with seeds in the center. Have you ever had European grapes?? All the grapes I ate in France had big seeds in the center, more annoying than anything. Watermelon sounds great in a salad..i've had other melon in it before. I bet the contrast of the balsamic is wonderful. Thanks for sharing Chris! Awesome as always 😀
Chris
Hahaha, get on that Kelly! And thanks for making me feel better about my weird phobia hahaha
Chantal
Hi Chris
This is a so fresh and nice combination!
I'am a huge fan of feta so it's wonderful!
Have a great day
Chantal
Chris
Thanks so much Chantal!
ela
Beautifully done! Love the chunky watermelon. Great job on that balsamic glaze...never heard of it, but I'm sure I'd like it a lot.
ela h.
Gray Apron
Chris
Thanks so much Ela! Yes, you totally need to try balsamic glaze!
Shashi
Go you with flaunting your hand again!!
I love watermelon - my mom used to tell me I would have a watermelon tree grow in me as I would never spit out the seeds - (thank goodness for the seedless variety now) but I don't think I've ever had watermelon paired with feta and balsamic vinegar before but am itching to try it - this salad looks so good, Chris!
Shashi
Go you with flaunting your hand again!
I love watermelon - my mom used to tell me I would have a watermelon tree grow in me as I would never spit out the seeds - (thank goodness for the seedless variety now) but I don't think I've ever had watermelon paired with feta and balsamic vinegar before but am itching to try it - this salad looks so good, Chris!
Chris
I know... I'm on a hand model binge. 😉
Sandra
WOW...everything I love in a salad...because I'm not afraid of watermelon 😉 (*snort*) Ok ok...seriously you need to get to a help group. Doubt they are going to come up with seedless cherries anytime soon (unless you like the kind in a jar), but at least you can enjoy some seedless watermelon. This salad really has everything I love in it, I think it is awesome how you are using your pickled onions...really need to make up some more of those soon!
Chris
Hahahaha yea yea, go ahead. Snort all you want lol. Bleh, cherries in a jar... unless maybe you yourself jarred them, then we're talking haha.
Susan
This salad sounds delicious! Best choice for cheese, in my opinion, would be goat feta - the best of both worlds…
BTW, if you want to eat cherries, you can get a little gadget that pits them for you. It's a bit time consuming if you want to pit a lot of cherries, but you could enjoy the flavor without having any worries about the pits (the gadget works for olives, also).
Chris
Thanks so much Susan! Love your suggestion of goat feta... yum! Hahaha, I might need one of those gadgets! I'll actually eat cherries, but I eat them like an apple, nibbling on the fruit all the way around the pit haha
Allison
This salad looks so refreshing! I love the big cubes of watermelon. This is exactly the kind of food I'm craving right now! Great recipe and mouthwatering photos. And I LOVE balsamic -it's so versatile!
Chris
Thanks so much Allison!
Cindy
This salad looks amazing! I haven't thought to use watermelon in a salad, but I'm totally on board. I also love the combination with the balsamic vinegar. My mouth is watering!! Pinning!
Chris
Thanks so much Cindy!!
Taylor
YUM! I adore feta and balsamic and I have been hearing all about this whole watermelon and feta thing, which I must try! So you better believe this is happening. Plus, these photos? GORGEOUS Chris! Pinned!
Chris
Hahaha thanks Taylor! Happy weekend!
Joanna
This looks so fresh and light! Perfect for Memorial Day weekend (and the rest of summer).
Chris
Thanks Joanna!
Mike
I've discovered the feta + feat combo a couple of years ago, since then I can't wait for summer to come so that I can finally enjoy it. I love your arugula add-on, looks amazing
Btw, have you tried with mint? It's also ridiculously good!
Chris
Dude, mint is such a great idea! Totally need to try that! Thanks Alpha!
Cate
Hey, no judgement on your fear - we all have our things! But I'm glad you tackled the fear because this salad looks amazing! Watermelon and feta in a salad is one of my favorite summer light meals. Yours looks so delicious! That thick balsamic glaze - yum!
Chris
Hahaha thanks! Glad I have your support 🙂
Shelley
So, wow! I really got a lot out of this post! First of all, I got to snicker a little as I read about your unusual seed-phobia (no worries ... not judging ... still think you're awesome and all that ... but it's still worth a giggle 😉 ). Then, of course, there's the whole brilliance of this salad, which is an inspired creation that I would love to be eating right at this very moment. And lastly ... the crowning aha moment as I do a little face palm and wonder why I never thought of this ... keeping a bottle of vinegar reduction on hand in the fridge! That, my friend is sheer genius! I adore syrupy, wonderful reduced vinegar ... why did it never occur to me to stash a squeeze bottle of it to have on hand for all my reduced-vinegar emergencies? Seriously ... I'm on it! 😀
Chris
Yea yea, snicker away lol. Definitely worth a giggle... haha I can laugh at myself! Yea, keeping a bottle of balsamic reduction in the fridge is key!
Kelly
Haha totally get it, my husband feels the same way about berries - the tiny seeds drive him bonkers hehe. I love watermelon and arugula so this salad is totally calling my name! Especially with the balsamic glaze -so good 🙂
Chris
Glad my seed phobia isn't super crazy to you! 😉
Tina
Wow this looks super delicious and refreshing! I think I've always loved watermelon, but I don't judge. 😉
Chris
Hahaha thanks for not judging 🙂
Anna Johnston
I adore this combination, it is Summer in a bowl. Delicious! 🙂
Chris
Thanks Anna!
Tamara Coleman
I love watermelon & arugula! YUM-O! Perfect summer salad! 🙂
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Pam
What a delicious and beautiful salad... love the flavors!