Red, White, and Blue Patriotic Salad

Summer food is a favorite in my household. There is something about fresh, light, and quick dishes that make me happy. This red, white and blue summer salad is the perfect patriotic food for summer cookouts or potlucks.

With just a handful of fresh, warm-weather ingredients this salad comes together in under 15 minutes. Keep reading for all the steps to make this salad, make-ahead instructions, and a fun alternative way to serve it to your family or guests.

Ingredients

• 4-6 cups watermelon, cubed
• 1 pint of blueberries
• ¼ cup feta cheese crumbles
• Juice from 1 lime
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

How to Choose a Ripe Watermelon

The key ingredient in this recipe is juicy, red watermelon. Choosing a ripe watermelon will give you the perfect texture in this patriotic salad. But can you know if a watermelon is going to be ripe and juicy before you cut into it? Yes, you can!

First, knock on the watermelon. It should sound hollow, not dense. Next, look for a large spot on the watermelon that is different in color. This is called the field spot, and it’s where the watermelon sat on the ground. If this spot is yellow, the watermelon is ripe. The green rind should also be firm when you press on it. Use these three indicators for the best summer watermelon every time.  

Instructions

The steps for putting together this summer salad could not be any easier. Here’s everything you need to know about creating this patriotic food for your dinner table.

Step 1 – Make the Dressing

In a small bowl, combine lime juice, honey, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Use a fork to mix the salad dressing thoroughly. Set the bowl aside. 

Step 2 – Combine the Fruit and Dressing

In a large bowl, combine the watermelon cubes and blueberries. I usually just make this salad directly in the serving bowl because it’s so few ingredients and it makes cleanup a breeze. 

I pour the dressing on in this step as well and toss everything together to coat. 

Step 3 – Add the Feta

Once the fruit has been coated in the dressing, I sprinkle crumbles of feta cheese. I don’t like to add the feta before tossing the fruit with the dressing because it causes the feta to break down and makes all of the ingredients look a little less vibrant in color.

Step 4 – Garnish with Mint and Enjoy!

The final step is to garnish with a little bit of fresh mint. I love to serve this salad immediately after making it. But it is possible to make it ahead of time. Keep reading for more on that below!

Cookware Used

This is everything you’ll need to make this patriotic food.

Large Chef’s Knife: A large, sharp chef’s knife is the best tool for cutting watermelon.

Large Cutting Board: Use the largest cutting board you have to cube your watermelon. Follow the steps below to cube a watermelon quickly and safely.

Large Salad Bowl: I combine this entire salad in one large bowl. Make sure the bowl is large enough to hold up to 8 cups of food when the salad has been completely combined. This will give you room to stir and serve.

How to Cut A Watermelon into Cubes

The most time-consuming part of this patriotic food is cutting the watermelon into cubes. You can absolutely buy pre-cut watermelon, and I have done that in the past, but I love a fresh, whole watermelon in the summertime.

To cut a watermelon quickly, cut the ends off both sides so that you start to see the watermelon’s red flesh on both ends. Next, cut the entire watermelon in half crosswise (not lengthwise) so you have two circular halves. Place the first half with the larger flat side down on your cutting board. Use your knife to remove the rind, cutting from the top of the watermelon half to the bottom. 

Once all the rind is removed, you can cut these large, rindless halves into circular discs about an inch thick. Once you’ve got several discs, you can easily cut those into cubes to use in this patriotic food.

How to Make Red, White, and Blue Salad Ahead of Time

You can easily prep this salad 1-2 days ahead of time if you want to simply throw it together on the day of your cookout or party. Start with making the dressing and keep it in an air-tight container in the fridge. Cut and cube the watermelon and store it in a zip-top bag or lidded container in the fridge along with the dressing. Rinse the blueberries and keep them chilled, as well.

On the day you plan to serve the salad, follow steps 2-4 above and enjoy!

Red, White, and Blue Skewers

A fun and family-friendly way to serve this patriotic salad is to make red, white, and blue skewers. Instead of tossing everything together in a large bowl, you’ll thread the fruit and cheese onto a skewer to make a fun patriotic appetizer. If you plan on making these in skewer form, it is best to buy blocks of feta instead of feta crumbles. 

Thread a cube of watermelon onto a skewer, followed by a cube of feta cheese. Add two blueberries and then repeat the process once more to create one skewer. I like to get all of the skewers made and then onto a serving platter and then drizzle the dressing all over for the best flavor. Garnish the entire platter of skewers with mint after the dressing.

Flavorful Additions to this Patriotic Food

If you’d like to customize this red, white, and blue salad, you can try adding different ingredients until you find your perfect combination. Here are a few of my favorite additions to this fresh summer salad:

• Red onion
• Basil
• Spring mix
• Arugula
• Blackberries

Now, It’s Your Turn!

The next time you’re hosting a patriotic party or going to a summer potluck, I recommend giving this red, white, and blue summer salad a try! It’s light, fresh, and healthy and makes great use of all the summer fruits. Plus, with just four steps, it comes together in a flash. 

Don’t forget to try the skewers if you want something people can eat as they stroll and chat and enjoy the beautiful warm weather!

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