If you have leftover watermelon from a party or just bought one of the giant fruits at the grocery store you can’t go wrong by making a Watermelon Feta Salad. This light and refreshing Mediterranean staple puts some of the best flavors of summer front and center. The standard recipe is made with sweet juicy watermelon and salty creamy feta cheese but most recipes mix in a variety of other ingredients to create a harmonious symphony for your taste buds. Cool cucumber and mint tangy arugula and red onion and a zesty citrus juice or balsamic-based vinaigrette are often tossed into the salad to tie the dish together. However there are a few less common additions that can make the salad even more delicious: basil and ginger.
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 Preppy Kitchen | 2021-08-10 19:00:12 |  195,796 Views |
Delicious watermelon salad for summer
Whether you throw basil and ginger into a watermelon and feta salad alongside similar ingredients or serve them on their own for simplicity’s sake the herb and spice bring a lot to the table. Basil has a whole range of flavors that lend a grassy lemony and peppery flavor to the salad. It also has a subtle sweetness that can sometimes make it a more complex substitute for mint if you’re looking for the perfect herb. Ginger on the other hand is spicy offering a warmth that pairs well with the sweetness of the watermelon and the creaminess of the feta cheese. Together these two secret ingredients can elevate a simple watermelon and feta salad into an extra refreshing summer-ready dish.
While most fresh watermelon and feta salads call for mint basil is hard to beat. These two herbs share some similarities partly because they’re both members of the Lamiaceae family which also includes lavender rosemary sage and thyme. While mint is generally sweet and creates a pleasantly cooling sensation on the taste buds thanks to menthol basil can be both sweet and savory making it a perfect partner for watermelon and feta. Of course you can always toss the two herbs together in a summer salad for an exceptionally refreshing and flavorful dish.
As a jack-of-all-trades basil has a broad flavor profile that includes earthy tart and even slightly spicy notes that can add complexity to sweet fruits and salty cheeses. There are also a ton of different types of basil so there’s room for experimentation. The standard variety sold in most grocery stores is Genovese basil which adds a peppery slightly sweet flavor to similar Mediterranean dishes like caprese salad and bruschetta which also feature fruits and cheeses. Along with other hidden gems at your local farmers market you might be able to snag some lemon basil aptly named for its citrusy flavor and aroma or dark opal basil which has a pretty purple color and a slightly sweet tangy flavor. No matter which type you choose this versatile herb can take your watermelon and feta salad from good to great.
