Watermelon Carpaccio

Summer is the time for light refreshing bites, and this Watermelon Carpaccio checks all the boxes. Sweet, juicy watermelon meets creamy feta for the ultimate sweet+savory combo. Add in a touch of honey, crunchy walnuts, and a hint of fresh herbs for a creation that’s simple flavorful, and sophisticated. (Think of it as the older bougie cousin of Watermelon Feta Salad.) It’s the kind of dish that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, but comes together in just 10 minutes. Even better, it’s packed with potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin C – the menu addition for your healthy girl (or guy!) summer.

Before you start

• Watermelon Carpaccio combines sweet watermelon and creamy feta for a sweet+salty combo.
• The dish is quick to prepare, taking only 10 minutes, making it suited to summer gatherings.
• Customize your Watermelon Carpaccio with various cheeses, nuts, and seasonal fruits for different flavors.
• Garnish with fresh herbs for added visual appeal and aroma, enhancing the overall experience.
• Enjoy it alongside a sparkling drink or white wine for a refreshing summer meal.

What stands out

This Watermelon Carpaccio is all about simple ingredients coming together in a way that feels special without any fuss. Sweet juicy watermelon slices provide a refreshing base, while creamy feta adds just the right touch of saltiness. Additionally, a drizzle of honey brightens each bite, and walnuts give a satisfying crunch. Finally, garnish it with a few sprigs of fresh mint or thyme, and suddenly you have something that looks beautiful on the plate and tastes even better. It’s quick to assemble, straightforward to play with (try different cheeses, nuts, and fruits), and suited to sharing with friends or enjoying on your own.

Watermelon: We like to cut our watermelon into rectangles, then shave them into thin carpaccio-like layers with a vegetable peeler. This method makes each bit feel light and fresh.

Feta: Creamy, salty, and just a little tangy. Crumble it over the watermelon so every bite has that contrast.

Honey: We like to add a drizzle of hot honey for an extra kick. Plain honey adds a nice floral note that works just as well.

Walnuts: Crunchy and with a hint of earthiness, they bring texture without overwhelming the other ingredients. Additionally, you can even lightly toast them for added depth.

Herbs (Mint or Thyme): These are the finishing touch. The mint adds brightness, while thyme gives a subtle, aromatic note. Either one turns a simple dish into something that feels intentional and special.

Kitchen tip

Save your watermelon scraps and toss them into a smoothie or refreshing drink for a zero-waste recipe.

Swaps

1. Feta is classic, but goat cheese or blue cheese both work well if you want a creamier or tangier flavor.
2. Instead of walnuts, add crushed pistachios almonds, or pecans for a crunch.
3. Cantaloupe, honeydew, or even peaches are great seasonal fruit alternatives to watermelon.
4. Fresh herbs add a pop of color and flavor – try mint for brightness, thyme for a subtle, aromatic note, or a blend for added complexity.
5. Use a floral, local honey for a flavor (and immunity!) boost. Additionally, you could also add hot honey for a kick, or a drizzle of balsamic glaze for bold flavor.

Serve it with

• A sparkling summer Strawberry Refresher.
• Your favorite chilled white wine.
• Alongside Feta Cheese Olives and Italian Stuffed Artichokes for an elegant spread.
• Additionally, complete your spread with a crusty Baguette

Questions

Can we use a knife instead of a peeler to cut the watermelon?

Yes! Instead of a peeler, you can use a strong mark knife and slice the watermelon as thin as possible.

What could we do with the leftover watermelon?

You can eat any of the scraps for a zero-waste recipe. Additionally, toss them into a smoothie or refreshing summer drink.

What type of feta should we buy?

We recommend buying a block of good-quality feta in brine. We love Greek feta, Bulgarian white cheese (which is just like feta), or Macedonian-style feta, which is creamy.

Can we make this ahead of time?

Yes! Slice the watermelon and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2–3 hours. Assemble with feta, walnuts, honey, and herbs just before serving to keep everything fresh.

can we use a different type of fruit?

Absolutely. Cantaloupe, honeydew, or even ripe peaches work beautifully. However, make sure they’re firm enough to slice thinly.

Ingredients

Makes 2 servings

• ½ small watermelon
• drizzle of honey, or hot honey
• good-quality feta, measure with your heart
• crushed walnuts, measure with your heart
• a few sprigs of fresh herbs, such as mint or thyme

Equipment

• Nakiri Knife
• Cutting Board
• Peeler

Method

1. How to cut the watermelon: The goal is to cut watermelon into 2 to 2.5-inch-thick rectangular shapes, and then slice those rectangles into thin strips OR use a vegetable peeler to peel the rectangles into thin strips.Here's how we formed rectangular shapes, starting with a whole watermelon: we cut a small watermelon in half and only used one half for this recipe. You can also purchase 1/2 a small watermelon if you don't want to buy a whole one. We then placed the watermelon half on it's side and we cut off a piece from the bottom (rind) so that it lays flat on a cutting board. We laid the melon flat (rind side down) and cut the rest of the rind off of the watermelon. From here you should be able to cut out a 2 to 2.5-inch-thick rectangular shape out of this piece. We like to cut our piece as wide as our y-peeler is.
2. Note: for zero waste, eat any of the watermelon scraps or throw them into a smoothie or refreshing drink for the summer.
3. Using a knife or a vegetable peeler cut or peel the watermelon into thin strips. Assemble the strips on a serving plate.
4. Add a drizzle of honey, crumble feta on top, add crushed walnuts and garnish with fresh mint. Enjoy!

Kitchen notes

• Cheeses: Feta is classic, but goat cheese or blue cheese both work well if you want a creamier or tangier flavor.
• Nuts: Instead of walnuts, add crushed pistachios, almonds, or pecans for a delicious crunch.
• Fruits: Cantaloupe, honeydew, or even peaches are great seasonal fruit alternatives to watermelon.
• Herbs: Fresh herbs add a pop of color and flavor – try mint for brightness, thyme for a subtle, aromatic note, or a blend for added complexity.
• Sauces: Use a floral, local honey for a flavor (and immunity!) boost. You could also add hot honey for a kick, or a drizzle of balsamic glaze for bold flavor.