Need a guilt-free, low-maintenance salad that will help combat the summer heat? This Israeli watermelon yogurt summer salad has a refreshing quality that is sweet and savory. Its taste is as welcome at the breakfast table as it is at a backyard cookout.
Watermelon Yogurt Salad
Most watermelon salad recipes incorporate feta, but you won't miss it in this version. The ingredients here don't compete with each other but are rather complementary. This innovative combination is a little sweet, a little savory, little tart, and a whole lot delicious!
Summer favorite fruit
WATERMELON is to summer as pasta is to Italy. "It's good fruit. You eat, you drink, you wash your face." - Enrico Caruso. Must be the reason our moms brought watermelons to every picnic and a poolside. I'm sure it's the only food we were allowed to eat to the point of getting a stomach-ache.
Not me, though. The anorexic child here never cared for watermelons much. It was in spite of you eat, you drink, you wash your face. Too juicy for eating, too chunky for drinking, and don't even get me started on trying to get to the rind without getting your face "washed". No, thank you.
But suddenly I grew up and discovered new ways to enjoy everyone's favorite summer fruit. Like this salad from Israel with yogurt and fried rosemary that is a far cry from the plain fruit of CHILDHOOD but still sophisticated in its simplicity.
It caught me by surprise how receptive my taste buds were to this grown-up version of watermelon, although you didn't need to twist my arm to try the watermelon sangria and infused pizza.
Ingredients for this Israeli salad:
- seedless watermelon
- grapefruit juice
- sea salt
- olive oil
- fresh rosemary
- Greek yogurt
- honey
- crushed red pepper flakes
- poppy seeds
- fresh mint leaves (optional)
How to make this savory salad?
*Keep scrolling to get the full (printable) recipe with instructions, or click the “Skip to Recipe” button at the top of the page.
- Toss together the watermelon and grapefruit juice; season with salt.
- Sauté rosemary in oil until crisp; drain on paper towel. Reserve the oil.
- Mix the yogurt and honey. Spread the yogurt mixture onto a serving platter. Top with watermelon and drizzle with the reserved oil.
- Crumble the fried rosemary leaves over the watermelon and sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes, poppy seeds, and mint leaves if using.
People also asked:
HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT WATERMELON?
- Choose a watermelon that feels heavy for its size.
- The best watermelons are average-sized. Don’t go for too small or too big, but just right.
- Look for a creamy-yellow or orange-yellow field spot (field spot is the area where the watermelon rested on the ground). Avoid the white field spot.
- The webbing of a watermelon indicates the number of times that bees touched the flower. The more pollination, the sweeter the fruit.
- The boy watermelons are more watery, while the girl watermelons are sweeter. The ‘boy’ watermelons are taller and more elongated, while the “girl” watermelons are more round and stout.
- Go for the ones that have dried tails for the best taste. A green tail indicates that it was picked too soon and will not taste as good.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO ENJOY WATERMELON?
If you like watermelon, you will love these recipes:
- WATERMELON SANGRIA AND INFUSED PIZZA
- MOSCOW WATER-MULE-ON
- FRESH WATERMELON MOJITO
Watermelon and Yogurt Summer Salad Recipe
EQUIPMENT
- Small skillet
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
Instructions
- Toss together the watermelon and grapefruit juice in a large bowl. Season with salt.
- In a small skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the rosemary sprig and sauté until crisp, about 30 seconds. Drain on paper towel. Reserve the oil.
- In a small bowl, mix the yogurt and honey. Spread the yogurt mixture onto a serving platter. Top with watermelon and drizzle with the reserved oil.
- Crumble the fried rosemary leaves over the watermelon and sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes, poppy seeds, and mint leaves if using. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
- Choose a watermelon that feels heavy for its size.
- The best watermelons are average-sized. Don’t go for too small or too big, but just right.
- Look for a creamy-yellow or orange-yellow field spot (field spot is the area where the watermelon rested on the ground). Avoid the white field spot.
- The webbing of a watermelon indicates the number of times that bees touched the flower. The more pollination, the sweeter the watermelon is.
- The boy watermelons are more watery, while the girl watermelons are sweeter. The ‘boy’ watermelons are taller and more elongated, while the “girl” watermelons are more round and stout.
- Go for the watermelons that have dried tails for the best taste. A green tail indicates that it was picked too soon and will not taste as good.
- Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
Jasna says
I love the combination of fruit in salads and I sincerely hope to make this watermelon salad one day .. except when there's a watermelon in the fridge, I tend to forget other foods exist.
Jas says
Hvala, Jasna! I'm the opposite - when there is a watermelon in the fridge, it will go bad, lol. Except when I make this salad. Hope you'll enjoy it too!
Miz Helen says
This is a delicious recipe for our favorite summertime watermelon! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
Jas says
Thank you for your 5-star reviews, Miz Helen! Much appreciated. 😀
Karren Haller says
I have been hungry for watermelon and the combination of ingredients sounds refreshing. never thought of adding to yogurt.
Thank you for sharing on Oh my Heartsie GIrls WW this week, hope to see you again soon!
Pinned to share!!
Enjoy your weekend!
Karren
Jas says
Thank you, dear Karren! Have a wonderful week!
Snap says
I love watermelon and yogurt! I printed the recipe. Thanks!
Jas says
Thank you so much! 😀
Maria | passion fruit, paws and peonies says
Ooooo this is a fabulous recipe! Thanks I'll book mark this one xx
Jas says
Thank you, Maria! I'm glad you like it 🙂
candy says
Love this ideas and will use my homemade yogurt. Found you on Bloggers Pit Stop.
Jas says
Mmm, homemade yogurt sounds even better! Thanks for stopping in, Candy!
Jann Olson says
Jas, if it's a good watermelon I love it any way I can get it! And yes, I don't even mind getting my face dirty. 🙂 This sounds so delicious and refreshing! Thanks for sharing the recipe with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Jas says
Or you get your face "washed", lol. Thanks, Jann! Hugs
Debrashoppeno5 says
This sounds so refreshing. I can’t have grapefruit juice. What do you suggest as a substitute?
Jas says
Hi, Debra! Any citrus would do. I think the mandarin orange would be a great substitute. 🙂
The Girl Next Door says
The watermelon-rosemary-grapefruit juice-yogurt combination sounds irrestible!
Great recipe! 🙂
Jas says
Thank you much! 🙂
Mrs Shoes says
I've grown watermelons in my flower garden to fill spaces a time or two - they were adorably round buy not quite as big as a soccer ball. A very traditional Mennonite dish we have in the summer is watermelon with rollkuken - it is not really summer until we eat this family meal together.
Jas says
I would never think to put those two together, but I bet they work!
susan says
Well, I do love watermelon, and I never knew there were boy and girl ones! I printed out the salad recipe and can’t wait to try it out!