Za’atar Watermelon Salad

Watermelon salad is the perfect summer dish, with crisp, juicy and sweet watermelon, sharp onions, spicy arugula, salty feta and the secret ingredient: Za’atar! This recipe for Za’atar Watermelon Salad is the healthy summer salad recipe you’ve been waiting for, with a special twist.

Nothing says summer like cold and crisp watermelon… in a salad. You may have tried a more traditional watermelon salad that features fresh basil, balsamic and sharp feta. But knowing me, I like to switch it up a little bit.

We’re adding a little bit of Israeli flair with the addition of za’atar, my favorite spice blend that will soon be your go-to seasoning. I seriously put this stuff on everything.

The ingredients of za’atar vary by region, with families guarding their secret blend of herbs and spices carefully. But, it is commonly a delicious blend of thyme, oregano, marjoram, sumac, toasted sesame seeds and salt. Delicious with olive oil on bread, sprinkled into salad, blended into favorite hummus recipe, za’atar will be your new secret ingredient!

This recipe was featured in the August issue of the San Diego Jewish Journal. A local publication that I’ve recently started writing for. Check out the issue and past issues to get a feel for my modern twists on jewish classics!

Try out my delicious recipe for Za’atar Watermelon Salad – my new favorite way to enjoy summer fresh watermelon.

#summerrecipe #watermelonrecipe #watermelonsalad #zaatar

Za’atar Watermelon Salad

Author: Micah Siva for the San Diego Jewish Journal
Cuisine: Israeli
Total time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Nothing says summer like cold and crisp watermelon… in a salad. Traditional watermelon salads feature basil, balsamic and sharp feta. We’re adding a little bit of Israeli flair with the addition of za’atar, a spice blend that will soon be your go-to seasoning. The ingredients of za’atar vary by region, with families guarding their propriety blend closely. But, it is customarily a blend of thyme, oregano, marjoram, sumac, toasted sesame seeds and salt. Delicious with olive oil on bread, sprinkled into salad, blended into favorite hummus recipe, za’atar will be your new secret ingredient!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups arugula
• 4 cups watermelon, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
• ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp pitted kalamata olives, sliced
• 1 tsp za’atar spice blend
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1. Combine arugula, watermelon, feta, red onion, and olives in a large bowl.
2. In a small bowl, whisk za’atar, lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper.
3. Pour dressing over salad, tossing to combine.
4. Enjoy!