Easy Watermelon Feta Salad: Make it for Memorial Day

In the U.S., Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. It has evolved into the kick-off to summer and a time to shop for retail bargains.

Our family will get together for a barbecue, as usual. And this year, I’m making a watermelon feta salad, a recipe from my friend, Andrew Hunter, a leading research and development chef.

But before we fire up the grill, we always contemplate the meaning of Memorial Day. After the American Civil War (1861-1865), a day of remembrance was set aside, initially called Decoration Day.

It was a time to decorate the graves of those who “gave the last full measure of devotion,” as Abraham Lincoln so eloquently expressed at Gettysburg.

More watermelon ideas: Make a tissue paper bowl.

It’s a good idea to talk to the grandkids about the meaning of Memorial Day in an age-appropriate way. It’s not just a school holiday, but a sacred time to honor the dead who sacrificed their lives for our country in times of war. You’ll find more of my thoughts about Memorial Day below.

But now, let’s make the salad! Watermelon is the ultimate, thirst-quenching summer fruit. According to Chef Andrew, “It’s the perfect foil for sweet herbs, citrus, and even salty cheese.”

Watermelon Feta Salad

• 1 English cucumber
• 1 seedless watermelon, heavy for its size, cut into bite size wedges or squares (see notes)
• 5 to 8 ounces crumbled feta cheese (see notes)
• 3 tablespoons chopped or julienned fresh mint
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice, more or less to taste

Cut off both ends of the cucumber and then cut it in half lengthwise. Place each half, flat-side down, on the cutting board and slice into thin half moons.

Toss the cucumber moons together in a salad bowl with the watermelon, cheese, mint, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and lemon or lime juice. Serve immediately.

Makes about 11 cups salad (based on an 8-pound watermelon).

For a summer dessert, try these Brownies and Ice Cream in a Jar.

Notes:

• My watermelon was about 8 pounds; adjust ingredients, depending on size and yield of your watermelon pieces.
• Balance your cheese to watermelon ratio. You might want less than 8 ounces, depending on the size of your watermelon. I used about 5 ounces.
• To make this salad ahead, prep and store each each ingredient separately. Toss just before serving.
• Reserve some feta and mint to sprinkle on top the salad just before serving for the nicest presentation.

Recipe adapted from Chef Andrew Hunter.

For more about watermelon, visit the Watermelon Board for tips, recipes, and other great watermelon ideas.

More About Memorial Day

Memorial Day was expanded to honor the dead of World War I after that global conflict, and it has since become a day to honor all military who died in wars in service to our country.

Since its origins in 1868, Memorial Day (Decoration Day) had been observed on May 30. In 1971, it was changed to the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. At that time, Memorial Day was also declared a federal holiday.

As kids growing up in post-World War II Hawaii, with grief still palpable among Gold Star Families, Memorial Day was a day to visit the local Veteran’s Cemetery, where each gravestone would be adorned with a little American flag and a lei made by school children.

A crowd would gather to hear speeches of valor and stand in reverence for the playing of Taps and the snap of the 21-gun salute. Our family attended every year to honor my uncle, killed in action in Italy in 1943, and buried at the Hilo Veteran’s Cemetery.

Civil War Cemeteries

As military history buffs, Steve and I took a driving trip to visit Civil War battle sites. Our trip of 3 1/2 weeks to nine cities inspired my post on efficient packing.

At every battleground site, we’d stop at the military cemetery because reading about battlefield strategy and the military big picture is dispassionate history. It doesn’t touch the personal tragedy of individual soldiers who fought and died on that ground.

It was a remarkable trip to traverse the landscape of battles we’d read about, bringing history to life, and being touched by the sober consequences of conflict.

Next Week

N and I will make a simple gift for dad as we get ready for Father’s Day.

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