Top 5 Michael Symon Watermelon Salad Recipes for Summer Joy

Michael Symon’s watermelon salad bursts with unexpected flavor combinations that dance across your palate.

Summer’s most beloved fruit transforms into a sophisticated dish through careful ingredient selection.

Fresh produce becomes the canvas for this culinary masterpiece, blending sweet and savory notes.

Crisp textures mingle with zesty undertones, creating a vibrant sensory experience.

Each ingredient plays a crucial role in building complex layers of taste.

Mediterranean influences shine through the carefully curated components, elevating a simple summer staple.

This salad represents more than just a side dish – it’s a celebration of seasonal freshness: enjoy every refreshing bite!

Reasons to Love Michael Symon Watermelon Salad

• Burst with Summer Freshness: This vibrant watermelon salad explodes with crisp, juicy flavors that capture the essence of a perfect summer day, making every bite feel like a refreshing cool-down.
• Quick and Effortless Preparation: Whipped up in just 15 minutes, this recipe offers a speedy solution for hungry guests or last-minute meal plans, proving that delicious food doesn't need to be complicated.
• Perfect Balance of Textures: The salad combines smooth, creamy feta with crunchy cucumber and juicy watermelon, creating a delightful dance of textures that keeps your taste buds excited with each forkful.
• No-Fuss Dressing Technique: The shake-and-go dressing method allows even novice cooks to create a restaurant-quality vinaigrette without stress, bringing professional-level flavor to your home kitchen with minimal effort.

Items Needed for Michael Symon Watermelon Salad

• Fresno Chili: Spicy pepper that adds a vibrant heat and bright color to the dressing.
• Olive Oil: Smooth base that helps blend and carry the dressing flavors.
• Vinegar: Tangy ingredient that provides acidity and balance to the dressing.
• Garlic: Sharp, aromatic element that enhances overall flavor profile.
• Mint: Fresh herb that brings a cool, bright note to the dressing.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings for enhancing and balancing taste.

• Watermelon: Sweet, juicy fruit that serves as the primary salad ingredient with refreshing flavor.
• Cucumber: Crisp vegetable that adds a cool, light texture to the salad.
• Scallions: Mild onion that provides a subtle sharp and fresh taste.

• Feta Cheese: Tangy, crumbly cheese that adds a creamy and salty contrast to the sweet watermelon.

Steps to Prepare Michael Symon Watermelon Salad

Step 1: Prepare Zesty Dressing

• 1 Fresno pepper, finely chopped
• Olive oil
• Vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Fresh mint leaves, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Secure the lid and shake vigorously until ingredients are well combined. Set aside to let flavors meld.

Step 2: Assemble Crisp Salad Base

• Watermelon, cubed
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 3-4 scallions, thinly sliced

Gently toss the ingredients to create a vibrant mixture.

Step 3: Dress and Garnish

Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly. Crumble fresh feta cheese on top for a creamy contrast. Chill for 10 minutes before serving to enhance flavors. Serve cold and enjoy the refreshing summer blend.

Helpful Tips for Michael Symon Watermelon Salad

• Slice with Swagger: Cut watermelon chunks with bold, confident strokes using a sharp chef's knife for clean, professional edges.
• Salt Whisper: Sprinkle kosher salt strategically to elevate watermelon's natural sweetness and create unexpected flavor depth.
• Timing Tango: Assemble salad just before serving to keep ingredients crisp, vibrant, and texturally exciting.
• Acid Boost: Squeeze fresh lime juice moments before serving to brighten the entire dish's flavor profile.
• Temperature Twist: Serve slightly chilled for maximum taste explosion and refreshing summer sensation.

Storing Michael Symon Watermelon Salad with Care

• Airtight Container: Seal the watermelon salad in a glass or hard plastic container to preserve its crisp texture and vibrant flavors. Press out excess air before closing the lid to minimize oxidation and maintain freshness.
• Refrigeration Timing: Consume within 1-2 days for optimal taste and crunch. The salad's delicate ingredients like fresh herbs and soft cheese will start losing their quality after this period, so plan your meals accordingly.
• Quick Tip: Keep the dressing separate if possible. Store components individually in separate containers to prevent ingredients from becoming soggy and maintain the salad's original zesty character. When ready to serve, mix just before eating for the most dynamic and refreshing experience.

Tasty Alterations for Michael Symon Watermelon Salad

• Spicy Tropical Remix: Swap Fresno peppers with habanero for extra heat, and add diced mango for a Caribbean-inspired flavor profile that brings tropical sunshine to the classic salad.
• Mediterranean Style Fusion: Replace feta with crumbled goat cheese, incorporate kalamata olives, and sprinkle za'atar seasoning to transform the salad into a Greek-inspired fresh dish with Mediterranean notes.
• Herbaceous Green Version: Substitute mint with fresh basil and cilantro, add some thinly sliced jalapeños for subtle kick, and use lime juice instead of vinegar to create a vibrant green herb-infused watermelon salad that bursts with fresh garden flavors.
• Protein-Packed Power Bowl: Toss in grilled chicken or shrimp, include quinoa as a base, and keep the original dressing to convert this side dish into a complete summer meal with added protein and substance.

Concluding with Michael Symon Watermelon Salad

Summer culinary magic happens with Michael Symon’s watermelon salad, blending sweet and tangy notes into one refreshing masterpiece.

Mediterranean-inspired ingredients dance together, creating a symphony of flavors that elevates simple summer produce.

Red Fresno peppers provide unexpected heat, while crisp cucumber adds remarkable texture to each delightful bite.

Cool mint whispers through the dish, complementing watermelon’s natural sweetness with herbal complexity.

Creamy feta cheese crumbles scattered across the top offer salty counterpoints that make taste buds sing.

With passion and creativity, this salad transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary experience – so snap that perfect photo, share the recipe, and watch friends fall in love with culinary excellence.

Michael Symon Watermelon Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Cool watermelon salad by Michael Symon delivers summer freshness with crisp fruit, feta cheese, and mint. Zesty dressing and unexpected ingredients make this dish a refreshing crowd-pleaser you cannot resist.

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Ingredients

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Produce:

• 3 cups large diced red seedless watermelon
• ½ cup diced English cucumber
• ¼ cup finely sliced scallions
• 1 small Fresno chile or jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced or grated
• ¼ cup finely torn or finely chopped fresh mint

Cheese and Dairy:

• ½ cup Greek feta cheese, crumbled

Dressing and Seasonings:

• 6 to 9 tablespoons (90 to 135 milliliters) extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) red wine vinegar
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Prepare a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and combine Fresno peppers, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and minced garlic inside. Sprinkle kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, then add chopped fresh mint leaves.
2. Secure the lid tightly and vigorously shake the jar to thoroughly blend the dressing ingredients, ensuring all components are well incorporated. Set the marinade aside to allow flavors to meld together.
3. When ready to serve, select a large mixing bowl and gently combine diced watermelon chunks, thinly sliced cucumber, and finely chopped scallions.
4. Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and delicately toss the ingredients to ensure even coating without crushing the delicate watermelon pieces.
5. Crumble fresh feta cheese over the top of the salad, distributing the cheese evenly for maximum flavor distribution.
6. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to enhance the refreshing qualities of the dish before serving. Garnish with additional mint leaves if desired.

Notes

• Culinary Zen happens when you relax and let flavors mingle before serving, giving each ingredient time to whisper its secrets.
• Temperature matters more than you might think, so pull ingredients out 30 minutes prior to mixing for seamless blending.
• Customize this recipe like your personal kitchen playlist, swapping ingredients based on what makes your taste buds dance.
• Kitchen tools aren’t just utensils; they’re your culinary companions waiting to transform simple ingredients into something extraordinary.
• Fresh herbs are the rockstars of this dish, bringing explosive flavor that dried versions can only dream about.
• Chopping technique impacts texture dramatically, so slice deliberately and with confident, consistent movements.
• Leftover potential runs high with this recipe, storing beautifully in airtight containers for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
• Salt gradually and taste constantly, building flavor layers like a master chef constructing a delicious symphony.
• Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly, creating silkier textures and more harmonious flavor profiles.
• Olive oil quality transforms good recipes into unforgettable experiences, so splurge on a bottle that makes your palate sing.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Tossing
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 170 kcal
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 410 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 10 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg