If you love the taste of watermelon, but are tired of eating it alone, then prepare to have your mind (and taste buds) blown with this delicious, nutty, tangy twist on watermelon, inspired by a dish at one of my favorite restaurants. This Famous Kokkari 4-Ingredient Watermelon Feta is bursting with fresh, summertime flavors and makes for the perfect appetizer, side dish, or stand-alone snack! With only four ingredients: watermelon, feta cheese, fresh basil, and pine nuts, it’s a delicious, vegetarian-friendly dish that is the perfect way to enjoy watermelon season.
One of the first restaurants I went to, once I moved to San Francisco, was Kokkari. This famous Greek restaurant has been around San Francisco for years, and has been a local favorite. When my husband and I went there a few weeks ago, I decided to break out of our usual routine and order a new dish on their menu: their watermelon feta. As soon as I took a bite, I knew instantly that I had to recreate it for the blog. It was loaded with chunks of fresh watermelon, tangy feta cheese, toasted pine nuts, fresh basil, and topped with a drizzle of olive oil and flaky salt for an explosion of flavors in my mouth. It was so simple, yet bright and perfect for the summertime. I know you’re going to love it, too!
I love creating simple recipes like this, because they prove that you don’t have to spend a ton of time in the kitchen in order to eat healthy. This recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes, and with only 4 ingredients, it’s budget-friendly as well. With food prices now at an all-time high, it’s more important to me than ever to provide you with healthy recipes that don’t break the bank. This is one of them.
And, another great part about this recipe? It only gets better with time. I love keeping this recipe in the fridge and enjoying it 2, even 3 days later. As the ingredients sit, the olive oil soaks into the watermelon and feta, giving it a rich, full-bodied flavor. I highly recommend preparing this recipe ahead of time and enjoying it later. It’s absolutely delicious!
4 Healthy Ingredients Needed to Make This Recipe
As mentioned above, you only need 6 basic ingredients in order to make this recipe!
- Watermelon: When it comes to summertime fruits, nothing beats watermelon. This sweet, hydrating, and delicious fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals, as well as water to keep you hydrated in those warm summer months.
- Feta Cheese: Feta cheese is tangy, refreshing and perfect for the summertime season! While we will be using crumbled feta cheese, I highly recommend NOT buying pre-crumbled feta and instead buying a whole block and crumbling it yourself. The quality of the feta is much higher when you buy it in the block, resulting in a much better flavor.
- Pine Nuts: Toasted pine nuts add crunch to this recipe, and a rich nutty flavor that is truly unbeatable. Plus, they add in a dose of healthy, plant-based fats, to keep you fuller and more satisfied for longer.
- Fresh Basil: Fresh basil is KEY to this recipe. Dried basil just doesn’t work the same! You can chop the basil to get it in nice, even pieces, or if you’re low on time, just tear it with your hands. It’s that simple and easy!
- Olive Oil: Because the olive oil is simply a garnish for this recipe, you want to make sure that you’re using a high-quality olive oil. My absolute favorite finishing olive oil is by Graza, and is so good that you’ll want to put it on everything!
- Sea Salt: I love finishing this dish off with a pinch of flaky sea salt. It adds the perfect finishing flavor, and makes this dish truly shine!
How to Make This Famous Mediterranean-Inspired Recipe
In less than 10 minutes, you’ll have the perfect appetizer or side dish for all of your summer recipes! To make this Watermelon Feta, start by cubing the watermelon pieces and set them aside.
Next, heat a small pan on the stove, over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add in the pine nuts and toast them until they’re fragrant. This should take approximately 4-5 minutes, but be sure to watch them carefully so that they don’t burn. Once the pine nuts are done, set them aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Crumble the feta cheese and chop or tear the basil into fine pieces. Finally, assemble the salad by placing the cubed watermelon into a large dish and topping it with the toasted pine nuts, feta cheese, and basil.
Drizzle the watermelon with a high-quality olive oil and garnish with a pinch of flaky salt. Then, serve and enjoy!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.
** Photography by Bea Moreno
Ingredients
- 6 Cups Watermelon, cubed
- ¾ Cup Pine Nuts, toasted
- 1 Cup Greek Feta, crumbled; I always recommend buying a block of feta and crumbling it yourself, by hand, for best flavor!
- 1 Handful Fresh Basil, chopped or torn by hand
- 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Pinch Flaky Salt, to taste
Instructions
- To make this Watermelon Feta, start by cubing the watermelon pieces and set them aside.
- Next, heat a small pan on the stove, over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add in the pine nuts and toast them until they're fragrant. This should take approximately 4-5 minutes, but be sure to watch them carefully so that they don't burn.
- Once the pine nuts are done, set them aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Crumble the feta cheese and chop or tear the basil into fine pieces.
- Finally, assemble the salad by placing the cubed watermelon into a large dish and topping it with the toasted pine nuts, feta cheese, and basil.
- Drizzle the watermelon with a high-quality olive oil and garnish with a pinch of flaky salt. Then, serve and enjoy!
Rate & review
SELECT A RATING and tell me what you think!