The Wimpy Vegetarian
menu icon
search icon
×

Watermelon Salad with Feta and Verjus Vinaigrette

Watermelon and feta salad with verjus dressing for a super-easy summer salad.

watermelon and feta salad, verjus, summer, easy entertaining

Ver-what?

Verjus isn't a mainstream ingredient, and yet it's been around since the Middle Ages when it was used as a sauce ingredient, tenderizer, and condiment. It's pronounced ver-jue, translated as "green juice", and is extracted from unripened grapes.

Verjus is much softer than the brash edges of vinegar, think green apple tartness instead, but is often used as an alternative. What I particularly like is that less oil is needed in a vinaigrette when I use verjus. A lot less. Instead of using the typical 3 - 4 parts oil to vinegar, for example, in this salad I went with ½ part oil to verjus. That's a huge difference in calories.

I've used both Terra Sonoma's VerJus out of Sonoma County (California), and Navarro's Verjus, a Mendocino, California winery, and they're both wonderful. Add it to salad dressings, sauces, braises, or the water used to simmer artichokes or whole grains for a wine-like infusion of flavor that's not overly sweet.

As a note, verjus is non-alcoholic and only lasts about a week in the refrigerator once opened, so use it lavishly.

Print Recipe
No ratings yet

Watermelon and Feta Salad with Verjus

Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time45 mins
Course: Salad
Author: Susan Pridmore

Ingredients

  • 1 small watermelon
  • ⅓ cup feta cheese I use feta cheese from sheep's milk
  • ⅛ cup 2 tablespoon mint leaves thinly slivered
  • ⅛ cup 2 tablespoon basil leaves thinly slivered
  • ⅛ cup 2 tablespoon pepitas (toasted pumpkin seeds)
  • ¼ cup verjus
  • 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Cut away the green and white rind layers from the watermelon, and slice into 1-inch cubes. Lay on a serving dish.
  • Cut the cheese into ½-inch pieces and spread over the watermelon pieces.
  • Sprinkle the mint and basil on top. When I use basil in my garden, I toss on some basil flowers too. Add the pepitas.
  • Combine the verjus and oil, and drizzle over the watermelon salad. Finish with a light pinch of salt and ground black pepper.
  • Let sit for 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

NUTRITION INFORMATION (per serving)
Calories: 188
Fat: 13.4 g (Saturated Fat: 3.9 g)
Sodium: 195.9 g
Potassium: 174 g
Carbs: 13.1 g
Protein: 5.4 g

This is a great salad for a last-minute BBQ, a potluck dinner, or a picnic. And it's picnic season! In honor of picnic season as we march towards the big 4th of July holiday here in the States, the #SundaySupper crowd is having a huge virtual picnic. So go see what everyone's bringing, and pick up some great ideas for your own picnic! A big thanks to Jane at Jane's Adventures in Dinner for hosting us this week!

Beverages

Appetizers

Mains

Sides

Salads

Sandwiches and Wraps

Sweets

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

«
»

SIGN UP!

Want to add more vegetarian dishes to your dinners but need it to be easy? Subscribe here and get my 5 SECRETS TO FUSS-FREE VEGETARIAN DINNERS!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. apuginthekitchen

    I have used verjus a long time ago and had forgotten about it. I love how you use it here on the watermelon salad, a stroke of genius, you are right it's much less acidic or harsh than vinegar. Watermelon and feta is one of my favorite combinations.

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian

      Verjus is something that's not much on any of our radars, I think. And yet, it's really versatile!

  2. cheri

    Hi Susan, love this salad, I find watermelon is always so refreshing, love it combined with the feta, will have to check out the verjus, sounds delicious!

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian

      This is one of my favorite summer salads. I had it at a summer picnic a few years ago, and then tried to duplicate it for myself 🙂

  3. Marlene @Nosh My Way

    Watermelon and feta are definitely a great combination.

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian

      Totally!!

  4. Stacy

    This is my favorite kind of salad, Susan! I know I would love the salty feta with the sweet watermelon since I always eat watermelon with a sprinkle of sea salt. Can't wait to try this!

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian

      Yes! A little spray of salt is the perfect way to finish the salad off! Thanks, Stacy!

  5. Tara

    I was wondering when I would see the watermelon, I think it has to be in the top 5 to bring to a picnic, perfect recipe!!

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian

      When I think of summer, I think of watermelon 🙂 So I had to this to the picnic!!

  6. Liz

    What a stunning salad...the epitome of summer with the watermelon! And I need to track down some verjus to give it a try 🙂

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian

      It's worth tracking down, Liz. It's with the oil and vinegars in our stores, so that's a good place to start! It's great for sipping too 🙂

  7. Courtney @ Neighborfood

    I have heard so much about this watermelon feta salad, but have yet to try it or make it myself. Looks like I also need to find some verjus! Thanks for the info on it!

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian

      It's such a good partnership in flavors and textures, I think. And look for verjus with the vinegars in your store - that's where I find it here 🙂

  8. Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen

    YUM!! Watermelon and feta would taste sooo good together! Great salad 🙂

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian

      Thanks!!

  9. Shaina

    Love love love this salad. Watermelon and feta go together so perfectly!

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian

      I completely agree! I had this salad at a picnic a few years ago and fell in love with the flavors!

  10. Martin D Redmond

    Mmmm. I bet the verjus really set this off! I've had the Navarro verjus and it's great. I'll have to pick some up now that I know what to do with it besides drink it! Great looking recipe! Pinning!

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian

      I sip on Navarro's too - it's perfect! You would love this salad, I think, Martin!

  11. Sarah

    My coworker brought something almost identical to work on the last day of school, it looked amazing

  12. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious

    How interesting...verjus! The same principle happens with rice vinegar. It is half the acidity, so you need far, far less olive oil in the dressing to balance it. Great tip! And I really want this salad at every picnic, party and potluck for the rest of my life.

  13. Susan

    I have never heard of verjus before but it sounds like something I'd like and this salad looks delicious.

  14. Kim (Feed Me, Seymour)

    A picnic isn't a picnic without watermelon!

  15. Christy

    This is one of my favorite summer salads, I've never tried it with the verjus. Can't wait to try your version!

  16. Marion@Life Tastes Good

    This is such a beautiful salad and it looks so refreshing! It cools me off just looking at your beautiful pic!!

  17. laurasmess

    We have an Australian cook/media personality called Maggie Beer who is a big advocate for the use of verjus (or verjuice as it is often labelled over here!). It's great, I've fallen in love with it! Love this gorgeous salad, the crunchy pepitas and herbs must add so much gorgeous complexity. I can't wait to try it xx

  18. DB-The Foodie Stuntman @ Crazy Foodie Stunts

    I've never heard of verjus so thank you for teaching me something new!

  19. Choc Chip Uru

    Verjus is so classy an ingredient to use, I just read Lauramess's comment but I was about to mention Maggie Beer as well 😛
    This salad looks fantastic, the texture of feta and watermelon would be perfect!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  20. Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

    I always love a watermelon salad! So easy and relish!

  21. Cindys Recipes and Writings

    I can almost taste this, sweet watermelon and mild feta with verjus! Perfect!

  22. Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons

    I love any instruction to use something lavishly! I can't wait to get my hands on some verjus now. Definitely starting some research as to where I might be able to get some around here.

    Love the combo of watermelon and feta, and the pepitas for crunch are so smart!

  23. Terra

    I keep reading recipes using watermelon in a unique way. I need to try watermelon in a new way for sure! Such a lovely refreshing salad! Hugs, Terra

  24. mjskit

    I've never heard of verjus. How very interesting!! Thanks for introducing a new ingredient. I love this salad and can't wait for watermelons to start showing up here. I make something similar with a little preserved lemons added in. Now I'm on the hunt for verjus .

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian

      Verjus is worth looking for, and makes all the difference to this recipe. I'm working on alternatives if readers can't find it though. I'll post options once I have it nailed down.

  25. Mary @ Fit and Fed

    I have heard of verjus but never seen it for sale. It sounds perfect to go with fruit with its relative softness. I love watermelon and feta salad, just had one last week!