Watermelon is to summer like Bella is to Edward.  They belong together for eternity.*  Err…no?

What I mean to say is that summer’s nothing without juicy, sweet watermelon.  I love to take full advantage of it’s seasonality and use it as much as possible, whether it be in margarita form (recipe to come in the near future) or cubed in a fresh, simple salad.

Not only is this Watermelon-Tomato Salad a perfect compliment to any summer meal, but the recipe itself is super easy and fail-proof.  It can be doubled, tripled, quadrupled.  It can be made ahead of time…or eaten while prepared.  It can sit out in the sun while you lay by pool.  It’s so easy, I could cry.

Did I mention that the flavors meld perfectly together?  We already know that tomato and basil are soul mates.  Same with watermelon and mint.  So why not combine the four?  Let me tell you, it works.  It more than works.  It’s  equal parts sweet and savory.  And the feta cheese?  It balances the flavors together with it’s sharp, salty bite.

Recipe adapted from InStyle Magazine, July 2010 Issue:

Watermelon-Tomato Salad
4 lb. seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pint of heirloom cherry tomatoes (Trader Joe’s), halved
6 oz. crumbled feta cheese
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Place watermelon and tomatoes together on a plate.  Crumble feta on top.  Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Top with basil and mint.

*I clearly failed the analogy portion of the SAT’s.