Arugula Watermelon Salad Recipe 

This arugula watermelon salad is a game-changer for any kitchen, offering a quick, easy, and nutritious option that's perfect for summer. Perfect for health enthusiasts and flavor seekers alike, this salad is a harmonious blend of peppery arugula and crisp, water-rich fruit drizzled with a zesty dressing that will awaken your palate. Ideal for any meal, the arugula watermelon salad is more than just a side dish.

Not only is it bursting with flavor and health benefits, this watermelon arugula salad is my favorite summer salad for its simplicity and convenience. With just six ingredients and five minutes of prep time, you can whip up this delightful dish in a snap. Chances are, you already have everything you need waiting in your kitchen. If you're looking to refresh your usual arugula watermelon salad routine, this recipe is definitely worth exploring.

Arugula Watermelon Salad

Ingredients

Directions

1. Cut the watermelon into bite-size cubes.

2. Finely chop the mint leaves.

3. Slice the halloumi cheese into small cubes or use grilled halloumi.

4. In a small bowl, mix extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and pomegranate molasses until well combined.

5. Add arugula, cubed watermelon, mint leaf, and halloumi cheese in a large bowl. Then add salad dressing and black pepper. Gently toss the salad. 

What You Will Need To Make This Watermelon Arugula Salad

Arugula

Incorporating arugula into a watermelon salad introduces a peppery kick that contrasts delightfully with the sweet, crisp watermelon. This leafy green not only adds a spicy depth to the salad's flavor profile but also contributes a fresh, slightly bitter undertone that enhances the overall taste. The combination of arugula's boldness with the juicy freshness of watermelon creates a harmonious and refreshing dish, perfect for hot summer days or as a vibrant side to any meal.

My favorite arugula variety to use in this salad is Rocket arugula. Rocket offers a crisp and slightly peppery note that is perfect for a salad. If you are looking for a bold flavor, try wild rocket, which offers a strong flavor. If you like an even milder flavor, go with baby arugula, which offers an even milder flavor than the mature leaves.

Watermelon

Watermelon isn't just a summer staple for its juiciness; it's also a powerhouse of nutrients that bring a wealth of health benefits. This fruit is a hydration hero, with more than 90% water content, making it perfect for quenching thirst and detoxifying the body on sweltering summer days. It's loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals like vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium, bolstering immune health, supporting cardiovascular function, and aiding muscle and nerve activities. Plus, watermelon's low-calorie yet fiber-rich profile makes it an excellent choice for weight management and promoting digestive health.

In this summer salad, watermelon is a star ingredient, and this time, I opted for the yellow and red variety to add a vibrant color. Yellow watermelon, with its honeyed sweetness, complements the salad's flavors beautifully, offering a different taste experience than the classic red. These melons are naturally occurring, not genetically modified, and their yellow hue comes from an abundance of beta-carotene. If you haven’t tried yellow watermelon yet, it’s worth seeking out, perhaps at a local farmers' market or through specialized online grocery services. 

Fresh Mint

Incorporate fresh mint leaves to enhance the salad's taste; their lively and aromatic quality will elevate the dish. In the absence of fresh mint, dried mint can be a suitable substitute, still adding a touch of herby freshness. The vibrant freshness of mint complements the salty richness of halloumi cheese beautifully, creating a balanced and flavorful combination.

Halloumi Cheese

Halloumi cheese is not only a great addition to your delicious recipes but also offers some impressive health benefits. Made from a blend of sheep's and goat's milk, halloumi is a great source of protein, calcium, and phosphorus. The high protein content helps with muscle building and tissue repair, while the calcium and phosphorus strengthen bones and teeth. 

Halloumi is also low in carbohydrates and contains healthy fats that promote heart health. Additionally, it is rich in vitamin B12, which plays a key role in producing red blood cells and helps maintain healthy nerve function. 

Most summer salads, including arugula watermelon feta salad, use feta cheese; watermelon and feta cheese go very well together. I use halloumi cheese for this salad because it has a nice texture, especially when it's grilled and salty, making it balance well with sweet watermelon and mint. If halloumi cheese is not available, you can replace it with another white cheese, such as feta or goat cheese.

If you are a vegan or want to eliminate cheese from your diet, you can substitute it with vegan-friendly alternative cheese or marinated tofu. 

Pomegranate molasses

If you never had pomegranate molasses before, they offer an intense sweet and sour flavor. They taste very similar to balsamic vinegar. But unlike balsamic dressing, pomegranate molasses have much thicker textures and are richer in flavor, so a little goes a long way.

If pomegranate molasses is not available, you can substitute balsamic dressing, red wine vinegar, or balsamic vinaigrette.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is healthy for you, especially when it is cold-pressed. EVOO is full of monounsaturated fat, rich in vitamins, and potent antioxidants. All you need for this arugula salad is a drizzle.

Lemon Juice

Combining lemon juice with pomegranate molasses and extra virgin olive oil creates a vibrant salad dressing. The tangy zest of lemon juice perfectly balances pomegranate molasses' sweet, tart depth. At the same time, the smoothness of extra virgin olive oil binds these flavors together, adding a luxurious mouthfeel. This trio results in a complex, flavorful dressing capable of elevating any salad to gourmet status.