Grilled Watermelon Salad: When Sweet Meets Smoke in the Most Surprising Way

I got lazy and decided to throw watermelon on the grill. Not even sure why I thought about it—maybe boredom, maybe heat exhaustion making me crave weird combos. What I didn’t expect was how the smoky aroma would cling to the fruit, almost like a summer night you didn’t plan. The flesh, usually a watery mess, turns firm and slightly caramelized, holding onto that intense, juicy sweetness. A sprinkle of feta, a few mint leaves, suddenly everything feels more real—more alive. It’s not gourmet. It’s a little rebellious, a little nostalgic—like the watermelon you ate running around as a kid but with a grown-up, smoky twist. Makes you wonder why this isn’t a thing. Or maybe it is, and I just found it in the back of a random cookbook I half-forgot I owned.

Grilled Watermelon with Feta and Mint

This dish involves grilling thick slices of watermelon until lightly caramelized, enhancing their natural sweetness with smoky flavors. The grilled watermelon is then topped with crumbled feta cheese and fresh mint leaves, resulting in a tender yet firm final texture with a balance of sweet, smoky, and salty notes.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: fusion

Calories: 120

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 inch thick watermelon slices around 4 slices for serving
• 2 tablespoons olive oil for brushing the watermelon
• 0.5 cup feta cheese crumbled for topping
• a handful fresh mint leaves for garnish
• to taste salt and pepper optional, to enhance flavor

Equipment

• Grill or grill pan
• Brush for oil
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Tongs
• Serving platter

Method

 

1. Use a sharp knife and a cutting board to slice the watermelon into 1-inch thick rounds. Keep the slices uniform for even grilling.
2. Preheat the grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, brush both sides of each watermelon slice with olive oil using a brush.
   1 inch thick watermelon slices
3. Place the watermelon slices on the grill. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, watching for grill marks and slight caramelization along the edges. The flesh should soften and develop grill lines, with surface caramelization evident.
4. Use tongs to carefully transfer grilled watermelon slices to a serving platter. Let them rest for a minute to cool slightly.
5. Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese evenly over the grilled watermelon. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and season with salt and pepper if desired.
   1 inch thick watermelon slices
6. Serve immediately, allowing the warmth of the grilled fruit to complement the cool feta and fresh herbs.

Notes

Ensure not to overcook the watermelon to preserve its texture. grilling times may vary based on heat intensity. For added flavor, drizzle with balsamic glaze before serving.

Sometimes just tossing food on the grill surprises you. It’s those rare moments when the usual gets a little weird and suddenly becomes memorable. Do I think I’ll make this again? Might have to. Or maybe I’ll just keep it to myself and pretend I invented the new watermelon trend.