Watermelon, Cucumber & Feta Salad
Here's a healthy salad recipe to make at the height of summer when watermelon and cucumbers are at their juiciest and most flavorful. Feta adds the perfect creamy, salty, tangy edge, and mint makes this salad taste even brighter. This is one easy side salad you'll want to serve at all your summer BBQs.
Ingredients
½ cup red-wine vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
5 cups cubed seedless watermelon
1 English cucumber, chopped
6 ounces feta cheese, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
½ cup thinly sliced red onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
Directions
Whisk vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl; gradually whisk in oil until completely incorporated.
Combine watermelon, cucumber, feta, and onion in a large bowl. Gently stir in 1/2 cup of the vinaigrette. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or up to 2 hours.
Just before serving, gently stir in mint; drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette.
Tips
To make ahead: Prepare through Step 2 and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.
Macaroni Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
Give classic pasta salad a fresher, more flavorful spin. This fast pasta dish calls for avocado to replace some of the mayonnaise, which makes it extra creamy. Whole-wheat elbow macaroni and fresh vegetables lighten up this healthy pasta salad that you'll be making all summer long.
Ingredients
8 ounces whole-wheat elbow macaroni (about 2 cups)
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
½ cup thinly sliced celery
2 scallions, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
1 ripe medium avocado
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried minced garlic
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
Directions
Cook macaroni in a large pot of boiling water according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water; drain again. Transfer to a large bowl. Add bell pepper, celery, scallions, and parsley (or cilantro).
Halve the avocado, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh into a mini food processor. Add mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, dried garlic, and pepper. Process until smooth. Add the avocado dressing to the large bowl with the macaroni salad and stir until well coated.
Tips
To make ahead: Refrigerate for up to 1 day.
Watermelon Fruit Pizza
This refreshing fruit dessert pizza recipe swaps classic cookie crust with a healthier watermelon crust. Topped with yogurt sauce, your favorite berries, and mint, this fresh dessert can easily be doubled for a party or halved for every day.
Ingredients
½ cup low-fat plain yogurt
1 teaspoon honey
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large round slices of watermelon (about 1 inch thick), cut from the center of the melon
⅔ cup sliced strawberries
½ cup halved blackberries
2 tablespoons torn fresh mint leaves
Directions
Combine yogurt, honey, and vanilla in a small bowl.
Spread 1/4 cup yogurt mixture over each slice of watermelon. Cut each slice into 8 wedges. Top with strawberries, blackberries, and mint.
Berry Sangria
In this red, white, and blue sangria recipe, we've skipped the added sugar and used a slightly sparkling white wine, sweet dessert wine, and tons of fresh fruit to create a delicious, yet healthy cocktail.
Ingredients
1 750-mL bottle Vinho Verde
1 cup Sauternes or ice wine
1 cup blueberries
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 star fruit, sliced
1 cup chilled plain seltzer
Ice
Directions
Combine wine, Sauternes, blueberries, strawberries, and star fruit in a large pitcher. Refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours. Just before serving, stir in seltzer. Serve over ice.
Tips
Make-Ahead Tip: Refrigerate for up to 12 hours. Stir in seltzer just before serving.
Thank you, eatingwell.com for your inspiration!
