Strawberry Arugula Salad with Watermelon and Feta

This healthy strawberry and arugula salad recipe with a simple balsamic vinaigrette dressing gets even sweeter with watermelon that’s topped with feta cheese and nuts.

Strawberries. Watermelon. Arugula. Feta.

Sweet. Sweet. Bitter. Tang.

This super simple arugula salad with fruit and a quick balsamic dressing melds so perfectly together it creates a total flavor explosion. It’s smooth, it’s crunchy, it’s fresh, it has bite. And it lets every one of your senses know that baby, summer is on its way.

During spring and summer, I bet I make a version of this strawberry and arugula salad with watermelon, feta cheese and nuts at least once or twice a week. I LOVE the ying and the yang of the flavors and textures. Shockingly, the other two in our trio of a family didn’t get the fruit-in-salad-loving-gene.

Since meal time it’s a democracy in at 0ur house, when I say fruit goes in salad, this democratic (?) Queen (that’s me!) gets her way every time. And guess, what? Thanks to repeated exposure, my king and my princess have seen the light and converted to fruit-in-salad-lovers too.

All hail the Queen! (Still, me.)

Strawberry and Arugula Salad Ingredients

One reason I love this salad so much is that it’s incredible quick to make and the ingredients can be switched out for just about any fruit, cheese, or nuts you have on hand.

I use arugula for it’s spunky, peppery bite but you could also try spinach or spring lettuces.

I use strawberries for their sweetness but you could also try blueberries, blackberries, apples, peaches, nectarines, or plums.

I use watermelon for it’s watery melon flavor with crunch but you could also try cantaloupe or honeydew.

*note: I use a melon baller like this one to make round shapes for a pretty presentation, and to save time because there’s no skin to remove.

I use feta cheese for it’s salty flavor but you could also try blue cheese, cambazola, goat cheese, white cheddar, or even Parmesan.

I use slivered almonds for their crunch but you could also try toasted or candied pecans, pine nuts, or pistachios.

I use red onion for a little heat but you could also try thinly sliced shallots.

Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

With just 3 ingredients plus salt and pepper, this balsamic dressing is as simple as they come. As with all vinaigrette salad dressings, because there are so few ingredients in oil and vinegar dressings like this one, use the best olive oil you can afford because you will be able to taste the difference.

Balsamic vinegar is already quite sweet so just a pinch or two of sugar should keep this recipe balanced.

Add a bit sliced grilled chicken like I do in my spinach and strawberry salad with chicken and avocado for protein and bang! You have a super healthy main course. Or, double the recipe and you’ll have a great pot luck salad that will stun Aunt Audrey at the family reunion.

Recipes to Serve with this Salad

• The Best Greek Chicken Marinade
• Poached Salmon With Mustard Dill Sauce
• Pork Souvlaki With Lemon Rice
• Hawaiian Chicken Skewers
• The Secret to Grilled Babyback Spare Ribs
• Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Spinach and Goat Cheese

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.

4.60 from 22 votes

Strawberry Arugula Salad with Watermelon and Feta

This salad serves 3-4 as a main salad or 6-8 as a side salad. Good quality balsamic vinegar and olive oil are important to use for this simple dressing. Use a melon baller to make melon balls for the watermelon.

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Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword salad

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 338kcal

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• 8 cups arugula
• 3 cups seedless watermelon , portioned with a melon baller or chopped into ½ inch pieces
• 3 cups strawberries , sliced
• ¼ red onion , thinly sliced
• ½ cup fresh basil , chiffonade (optional)
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese or more to taste
• ¼ cup sliced almonds
• ⅓ cup fruity extra virgin olive oil
• 1 ½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar or honey, plus more to taste
• ¼ teaspoon each kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

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Instructions

• In a large bowl, add the arugula, watermelon, strawberries, red onion, basil, feta cheese, and almonds.  
• in a small bowl whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sugar or honey, and salt and pepper. Taste for sweetness and add more honey or sugar to your taste. Drizzle half of the dressing over the salad ingredients, reserving the rest and adding more if desired, then gently toss. Taste for seasoning and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 224mg | Potassium: 518mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 1850IU | Vitamin C: 79.8mg | Calcium: 205mg | Iron: 1.9mg

More Salads With Fruit You’ll Want to Make Too

• Strawberry and Avocado Spinach Salad with Chicken
• Summer Melon Cous Cous Salad with Avocado, Grapes and Mint
• Cucumber Basil and Watermelon Salad
• Berry Delicious Fruit Salad Recipe
• Citrus Fennel and Avocado Salad
• My Favorite Ambrosia Salad Recipe
• Red White and Blue Watermelon Blueberry Fruit Salad

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