Description
A refreshing and festive Watermelon, Feta and Mint Christmas Wreath Salad featuring chilled watermelon triangles arranged with fresh mint leaves and sprinkled with crumbled Greek feta cheese, drizzled with a zesty lime-honey dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Watermelon Wreath:
- 1 kg watermelon - prepared weight, trimmed of rind and chilled
- 6 sprigs fresh mint leaves - leaves picked
- 100 g Greek feta cheese - roughly crumbled
For the Dressing:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (20 ml)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoon honey
- Freshly ground black pepper - optional
Instructions
- Prepare the Watermelon: Wash the rind of the watermelon thoroughly to remove any dirt or bacteria. Cut the watermelon into 1 cm slices, then into approximately 4.5 cm squares, and finally diagonally into triangles. Discard the rind. Set aside any leftover watermelon for later.
- Cut Watermelon Stars: Use a small star cookie cutter to cut 12 watermelon stars from the neater offcuts and set aside for topping the salad.
- Arrange the Wreath: On a large platter, arrange the watermelon triangles around the perimeter, interspersing fresh mint leaves as you go. Add the watermelon stars on top.
- Add Feta: Sprinkle the roughly crumbled Greek feta cheese evenly over the arranged watermelon and mint.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, combine extra virgin olive oil, fresh lime juice, and honey. Mix well and adjust the taste if necessary.
- Dress and Serve: Drizzle the dressing over the salad and sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper if desired. Serve immediately for best crispness.
Notes
- Chill the watermelon before cutting to maintain a crisp texture and avoid sogginess.
- Use a standard Australian tablespoon measurement (20 ml); if using other countries' measurements, 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon equals one Australian tablespoon.
- Do not assemble the salad in advance as the watermelon will lose its crispness; prepare components ahead and assemble just before serving.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours; note that watermelon will release water and mint will darken over time.
- Wash the watermelon rind thoroughly even if not eating to prevent transferring bacteria to the flesh during cutting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
