Bursting with fresh flavour, this Watermelon Cucumber Salad Recipe is easy, delicious and perfect for all those upcoming deck parties, picnics and barbecues!
Hey everyone! If you can recall, back in March I attempted to go the whole month eating only vegetarian recipes. It didn’t last past two weeks, despite the fact that hubby and I regularly enjoy vegetarian and vegan meals. Funny thing is, lately that’s most of what we eat! I guess it was the rebel in me that couldn’t last going meat-free in March. These days? Bring on all things veggie like this super simple melon cucumber salad with bocconcini!
How to Make this Watermelon Cucumber Salad
This easy summer salad recipe requires only a handful of simple ingredients and can be whipped up in about 10 minutes. It’s light, fresh and just screams summer! When the weather warms up, this one would be lovely to take along for a picnic. Hubby and I went on one last year and took fur baby; we plan on making it an annual thing!
You literally chop up all the ingredients, toss together in a bowl and enjoy! Easy peasy!
What is Bocconcini?
Bocconcini are small balls of mozzarella, usually packed in water. You can find them in various sizes, including pearl (little tiny tiny ones), regular sized (like I used here), or large ones. They are semi-soft and absorb flavour really well. They aren’t intrusive in taste and go well with a variety of things, like this cucumber melon salad, in pastas or eating straight up out of the package (yes, I do that and please no judgement….they are that good).
Can I Make this Summer Salad Recipe Ahead of Time?
This salad is best made and enjoyed right away. The salt in the salad pulls some of the moisture out of the cucumber and melon and if it sits to long, it will get watery.
Having said that, if you do want to prepare in advance simply have everything chopped up and add the salt, oil and vinegar just before serving
Tips for Making this Watermelon Cucumber Salad
- This salad is best made and enjoyed right away. The salt in the salad pulls some of the moisture out of the cucumber and melon and if it sits to long, it will get watery. If you are going to make in advance, though, add the salt, oil and vinegar just before serving.
- I left the seeds in the cucumber. Because I enjoyed immediately, the salad didn’t get watery. However, if you like you can scrape the seeds out with a spoon. Just carefully cut cucumber in half and run a spoon down the centre to remove those seeds. Continue with recipe.
- If you can’t find bocconcini, no worries! Just use mozzarella (preferably the kind packed in water). Tear or cut into bite-sized pieces. Prefer not to use bocconcini or mozzarella, try feta cheese instead.
- If you want, you can use basil instead of mint; both work lovely! Speaking of mint, I can’t wait for our herb garden to start coming in. We grow mint like it’s nobody’s business. It really thrives for us, unlike basil (that one ain’t so easy, even when we tried growing it inside). Any tips? I’d love to hear!
Looking for other picnic recipes? Check these out!
- Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich
- Classic Egg Salad Sandwich
- No Bake Granola Bars
- Israeli Salad from A Fork’s Tale
Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon,
~Dawn
P.S. If you think this cucumber and watermelon salad recipe will make your belly happy too, please be sure to hit that little Pin button. Many thanks, you guys! XO
Watermelon Cucumber Salad Recipe {with bocconcini}
Ingredients
- 1 English cucumber -cut into bite-sized pieces, about 2 cups
- 3 cups mini seedless watermelon -cut into bite-sized pieces, about 1/2 a mini melon
- 200 grams bocconcini -cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 red onion -thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup fresh mint -chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a large bowl, stirring to combine. Best enjoyed immediately.
This salad is surprisingly good! I took a few bites before I put in olive oil, red wine vinegar, and salt and pepper, I realized it was actually perfect without those ingredients and it was sooooo yummy that I couldn’t bring myself to change anything so I didn’t add the liquids or salt and pepper.. Thank you for sharing ☺️
Thank you very much, Angel 🙂 So happy you enjoyed it!
Loving this combo! During the summer I want to eat mint on everything so I’m definitely trying this recipe!
Thanks Kitty!! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
This salad looks super refreshing and vibrant! Perfect summer fare 🙂
Thanks Sasha! It sure is 😉
A delicious sounding combination that I would not have thought about…thanks.
Thanks so much Karen! Happy to provide some inspiration 😉
This salad looks so refreshing! And what a great dish for cookouts and potlucks.:)
Sure is! Thanks Kevin 🙂
We’re with you and your hubby on the veggie cravings as the weather warms up. And this salad is the perfect balance of crunchy, delicious veggies and rich, creamy cheese!
Yay! Thanks Marissa! It definitely is 🙂
I love using watermelon in salads, in fact, I love using it in all sorts of savoury dishes. This sounds superb!
Thanks so much Brian! It really is a yummy ingredient 🙂
This is such a bright and tasty-looking salad perfect for summer. Looks great!
Thanks Caroline! It sure is 🙂
Yum! Can’t wait for watermelon season to try this. Love how simple all the ingredients are too!
Thanks so much, Amanda! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Nothing says summer quite like watermelon! I love how you’ve used it in this salad. What a wonderful combination of flavors….I think summer is just around the corner! 🙂
Totally agree! Thanks Kathy – I sure hope so 😉
Even though I could just eat a bowl of bocconcini it would be a shame not to combine it in this salad!! How refreshing for summer!!
Haha…same here 😉 Thanks Katherine!
I’ve never tried Bocconcini, but it looks pretty similar to burrata! This salad looks so refreshing– I can’t wait until my garden is going strong!
It’s really tasty! Somewhat similar in flavour, but denser. Thanks Sarah 🙂 Me too!
I love the sound of this salad! I don’t think I could go meatless for a whole month either, though this salad would definitely help! What a great combination of flavors!
Glad to hear I’m not the only one 😉 Thanks so much Pam!
I never ever would imagine to combine these two ingredients – watermelon and cucumbers. So it was quite a discovery for me. Also, thanks for a little story about bocconcini – very interesting!
It’s nice and fresh and really light! Thanks Helena 🙂 Hope you get a chance to try this one out!
Melon and cucumber is such a gorgeous combo. What a creative and delish way to serve it!
Totally! Thanks Chris 🙂
With the summer heat coming, this looks like just the thing! I love how refreshing this is while being good for you. It looks so pretty on the table too!
Thanks very much, Vicky 🙂 !
What a wonderfully refreshing salad! I love cucumber and melon…perfect combo for those hot summer days ahead! Pinning this beauty too.
Thanks so much, Catherine! Appreciate it 🙂 Enjoy!
What a refreshing spring/summer salad Dawn! I’ll definitely be giving this a try! Perfect for all those summer picnics ahead!
Woo hoo! Hope you love it Mary Ann!
This is a perfect simple salad for Summer. This would be a great side to any grilled meat.
Thanks Sharon! It sure would 🙂
Love this! I’m madly collecting salad recipes to get me through the Summer and will be putting this one on the list 🙂 Lovely!
Woo hoo! Happy to hear that, Jennifer! Enjoy 🙂
You probably have a sense of how I feel about bocconcini….and everything paired with it is my favorite in that moment! Not only is this bursting with flavor – it’s pretty too! Perfect for summer! Have a great week, my friend! XOXO
Hahaha- I do 😉 Thanks, my friend! Have a wonderful week too! XOXO
My go to cheese for watermelon in salads has been feta for as long as I remember. Feta was THE cheese in my family growing up, lol. So excited to try with the baby Mozzarella balls. Love those actually and you are right – they are the perfect little flavor absorbers:) Pinned! Have a great week!
Feta is pretty awesome too, either in a salad or eaten as is 😉 Thanks so much Milena! Have an awesome week too!
Bocconcini are one of my favorite snacks! I’ve never thought to pair it with melon but the salty sweet thing would totally work. Yes to taking this on a picnic this summer! Have a great week, Dawn!
Hope you get a chance to try it out, Kelsie! Thanks so much and have a wonderful week too 🙂
This is the perfect summer salad! I can totally see myself making this for a family backyard BBQ! I’ve never tried growing my own herbs but it’s definitely on my list to try! Good to know you are having success with mint. I would totally love to grown basil! I add it to everything lately. Happy Monday Dawn!
Thank you Leanne! It would definitely be perfect for that 🙂 Mint grows pretty awesome around here, at least for me! I usually have more than I know what to do with. Have a great week!
I’m thinking this salad sounds incredible, Dawn! I’ve never thought about combining mozzarella with watermelon…but I can see how this works, and it would be one heck of a perfect summer salad. Also, I’m with ya on the herb garden. I saw our mint just starting to peak out of the ground over the weekend, and it made me happy! 🙂
Thanks David! Yay for the mint coming around 🙂 Have a great week!