Description
A festive and refreshing Watermelon, Feta, and Mint Christmas Wreath Salad that combines crisp, chilled watermelon triangles with fresh mint leaves and crumbled Greek feta cheese, finished with a zesty lime and honey dressing. Perfect for holiday gatherings and summer celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Watermelon Wreath:
- 1 kg watermelon (2.2 lbs) - prepared weight, trimmed of rind, chilled
- 6 sprigs fresh mint leaves - leaves picked
- 100 g Greek feta cheese (3.5 oz) - roughly crumbled
For the Dressing:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- Freshly ground black pepper - optional
Instructions
- Clean the Watermelon: Wash the rind of the watermelon thoroughly to avoid transferring dirt or bacteria to the flesh while cutting.
- Cut the Watermelon: Slice the watermelon into 1 cm (0.5 inch) thick slices. Cut these slices into approximately 4.5 cm (1.5 inch) squares, then cut them diagonally into triangles. Discard the rind.
- Prepare Watermelon Stars: Use tidier watermelon offcuts to cut out 12 small star shapes with a star-shaped cookie cutter and set them aside for decoration on top.
- Assemble the Wreath: Arrange the watermelon triangles around the edge of a large platter, interspersing fresh mint leaves as you go to create a wreath shape.
- Add Topping: Place the watermelon stars on top of the wreath, then sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese evenly over the salad.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, combine the extra virgin olive oil, fresh lime juice, honey, and freshly ground black pepper if using. Mix well and adjust the taste if needed.
- Dress and Serve: Drizzle the dressing over the assembled watermelon wreath salad and serve immediately.
Notes
- Chill the watermelon before cutting for the best crisp texture; avoid leaving it at room temperature too long to prevent sogginess.
- A standard Australian tablespoon equals 20 ml (4 teaspoons). For other measurements, use 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon equivalent.
- Do not assemble the salad in advance as watermelon will become soggy. You can prepare ingredients beforehand and assemble just before serving.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours, but expect watermelon to release water and mint to darken.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
