This month, I was fortunate enough to be at the Disney Social Media Moms Conference at the very same time as the hugely popular Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. With so much to do and only so much time, it was a constant battle to shift time away from the attractions in the parks to more leisurely activities like – you know – walking around the world and tasting everything in it!
Fortunately, we had a few opportunities to do so and there are a few stand-out tastes that I can’t stop thinking about. One of them – Watermelon Salad from Florida Fresh! The $3.50 serving was reasonably priced, but I could have abandoned my family and sat at a picnic table to eat about 5 more servings. And so, I decided that when I got home I was going to make it. And now? This will be my go-to salad this summer when we have guests. I have no doubt that it’s bound to impress even more than my family’s caesar salad recipe, and that’s saying a lot.
The salad is super-easy to make, with just a few key ingredients. Take the additional step of making your own pickled red onions the night before and you will be a watermelon salad superstar at the next BBQ, I promise!
I shared two ways you could serve it in the photos below, either of which will wow your guests. Me, I’d prefer a giant bowl, a spoon, and a napkin for the balsamic reduction that I’ll probably drip on my shirt. (Balsamic reduction is like balsamic vinegar, which you can use as well, but thicker like a drizzle. If you only have vinegar, you can certainly use that too. But once you buy balsamic reduction you can be all, “Oh, I use this ALL the time, because I’m fancy like that.”)
- Cubed watermelon
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Baby or tender arugula
- Pickled Red Onions (see recipe below)
- Balsamic reduction
- Arrange the arugula in your bowl or serving platter.
- Top with cubed watermelon, then feta, then pickled red onions
- Drizzle with balsamic reduction and serve
- 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced (you can either slice them as a big round circle or in strips)
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar OR white wine vinegar (NOT white vinegar)
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon pickling or Kosher salt (I use sea salt if that's all I have on hand)
- Place onion in a mason jar or glass bowl.
- Combine the vinegar, water, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl or large measuring cup and mix together until the sugar and salt is dissolved.
- Pour liquid over onions, cover and refrigerate. You're done!
- Refrigerate 24 hours for best flavor though you can keep the onions for weeks in your fridge and the flavor keeps getting better!
This looks so delicious! I have never tried watermelon in salad before
I love dishes that mix sweet and savoury. This looks like a winner.
Not sure how I feel about watermelon in a salad….guess I’ll have to try it first before I can have an opinion eh 🙂
YUM! cant wait to try!
i would have never thought to put watermelon in salad but then again i never thought salad would taste good with strawberries till i tried it. looks very refreshing
This looks really yummy and refreshing for a summer side.
I must admit that I have never been a fan of watermelon, but that’s okay. I should be able to pick the watermelon out and give it to someone else and I can enjoy the rest that’s left. Thanks for sharing this recipe with your readers.
now there is an ingredients I have never thought about adding to a salad!
Sounds like a great summer salad to me, thanks for the recipe!
This salad looks so refreshing for a hot summer day. I have not used watermelon in any salads I make but will definitely try this one out.
Watermelon and feta is such a surprisingly great combination! I bet the balsamic makes it even better!
Thanks it looks delicious and it will find a place on my table over the summer
Always looking for something new, and this looks very tasty!!
This sounds so refreshing for summer. I love fruit in my salads.
Interesting. Have never thought to include watermelon in a salad. Looks refreshing though.
I love love Watermelon and this salad is right up my alley; thanks so much for sharing.
I think this would make a perfect side dish for grilled steak.
I have had Watermelon and Feta before but not pickled onions. Will be giving this one a try. Seems easy enough. Thank you for sharing. And that Balsamic Reduction is divine. I love it on my strawberries too.
so trying this – and I have a feeling I’m going to be obsessed with pickled red onions 😉
Very interesting. I just so happen to love all those ingredients!
Looks like a delicious salad!
Yummy!! And i never knew Epcot had a food and wine festival!
So simple but perfect combo & a nice fresh summer salad!
Love those tasty, quick, delicious looking recipes!
Can’t wait to try this one! We had chilled watermelon soup w feta & balsamic at our Mother’s Day tea and it was amazing so this sounds like a winner! 🙂
This looks really good. Perfect for the summer.
This looks awesome! Totally going to make those onions for other salads.
My husband can’t have a salad without onions. Definitely trying this recipe.
I love love love watermelon salad and make it every single summer! I make mine with spinach leaves and will try arugula this time.
Yum looks delicious. So light and fresh.
I’m not a fan of watermelon but my daughter is. I’ll have to pass on this recipe.
Wow that looks delicious. We sometimes get bored with the watermelon before we eat it all. Good idea!
I never would have thought of trying this but I think its worth a shot
What a great salad for a summer picnic.
Looks and sounds delish thanks for sharing , i have to try it out 🙂
Looks interesting but I am fine with watermelon alone without salad.
This is definitely intriguing ! It looks delicious and refreshing as a salad though.I will be giving it a try.
Watermelon is a great idea to balance out the bitterness of the arugula.
I really do love fruit in my salad. I have not yet tried Watermelon but this looks very refreshing and will be making this recipe for sure this summer.
I just love watermelon in salads, can’t wait to try this! You’re so lucky to have been at Epcot during the festival! Epcot is my favourite park and we usually go during the Food and Wine Festival in October if we’re lucky enough to go to Orlando.
That would be refreshing for dinner or lunch on a hot summers day! Looks amazing!
Looks delicious! Thank you for sharing.
This would be amazing at a BBQ!
This would make a great side dish for bbq
What a refreshing and tasty salad this looks like! Thanks for the recipe!
I have made this and it is so good!
Looks tasty and refreshing.
watermelon and cheese, an interesting combination
that looks super tasty
That looks really good and refreshing.
Oh this makes my mouth water looking at it!!
This looks light and refreshing and with winter prices approaching, this would be an affordable dish.
When I think salad I always think “ugh salad”. Then I EAT the salad and I think “Ohh, why don’t we eat salad more this is so delicious!”. It’s a bit of a love-hate relationship lol, but it’s always delicious.
Looks so delicious!