Celebrate watermelon season with this light and flavorful salad tossed in a bright white balsamic vinaigrette.
During a getaway to Santa Barbara last month, Barclay and I took a day trip to Ojai and completely fell in love with the picturesque, laid-back little town. We wandered from shop to shop, stopped into a handful of cute cafés and wineries, and soaked up the California sunshine. But the unexpected standout of the day? A fresh watermelon salad from a sweet spot called Little Gem. ♡
It was everything a summer salad should be — juicy watermelon, peppery arugula, salty feta, crunchy nuts, and crispy shallots, all tossed together in a light and tangy vinaigrette. We couldn’t stop talking about it the rest of the week! So as soon as we arrived home, I started testing my own version, and it has quickly earned a permanent spot in our rotation during watermelon season.
It’s fresh, simple, and perfectly balanced with vibrant flavors — the kind of recipe that works just as well for a quick weeknight dinner as it does for a backyard cookout with friends. I highly recommend taking the extra few minutes to fry up a batch of your own crispy shallots, which add so much flavor here, but you can also just grab a bag at the store (we like the ones from TJ’s) if you’d like to save a step. Let’s make some salad!