Watermelon Carpaccio
on Aug 12, 2023, Updated Nov 13, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Summer is the perfect 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 perfect menu addition for your healthy girl (or guy!) summer 🌞.
Key Takeaways
- Watermelon Carpaccio combines sweet watermelon and creamy feta for a delicious sweet+salty combo.
- The dish is quick to prepare, taking only 10 minutes, making it perfect for 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.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Watermelon Carpaccio
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, easy to play with (try different cheeses 🧀, nuts 🌰, and fruits 🍑), and perfect for sharing with friends or enjoying on your own.
Ingredients
🍉 Watermelon: I like to cut my 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 perfect contrast.
🍯 Honey: I 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.
Nonna’s Tip 🍉
Save your watermelon scraps and toss them into a smoothie or refreshing drink for a zero-waste recipe.
Variations and Substitutions for Watermelon Carpaccio
- Feta is classic, but goat cheese 🐐🧀 or blue cheese both work well if you want a creamier or tangier flavor.
- Instead of walnuts, add crushed pistachios, almonds, or pecans for a delicious crunch.
- Cantaloupe, honeydew, or even peaches 🍑 are great seasonal fruit alternatives to watermelon.
- 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.
- 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.
Best Served 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 🥖,
More Watermelon Recipes
Watermelon Feta Salad
10 mins
Watermelon Fries
15 mins
Watermelon Sandwich
10 mins
Watermelon Slushie
2 hrs 5 mins
Common Questions
Yes! Instead of a peeler, you can use a knife and slice the watermelon as thin as possible.
You can eat any of the scraps for a zero-waste recipe. Additionally, toss them into a smoothie or refreshing summer drink.
I recommend buying a block of good-quality feta in brine. I love Greek feta, Bulgarian white cheese (which is just like feta), or Macedonian-style feta, which is super creamy.
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.
Absolutely. Cantaloupe, honeydew, or even ripe peaches work beautifully. However, make sure they’re firm enough to slice thinly.
Watermelon Carpaccio
Equipment
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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 I formed rectangular shapes, starting with a whole watermelon: I 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. I then placed the watermelon half on it's side and I cut off a piece from the bottom (rind) so that it lays flat on a cutting board. I 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. I like to cut my piece as wide as my y-peeler is.
- Note: for zero waste, eat any of the watermelon scraps or throw them into a smoothie or refreshing drink for the summer.
- Using a knife or a vegetable peeler, cut or peel the watermelon into thin strips. Assemble the strips on a serving plate.
- Add a drizzle of honey, crumble feta on top, add crushed walnuts and garnish with fresh mint. Enjoy!
Nonna’s 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.
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is EVERYTHING! 🙌
This is so interesting! So easy to make, and it looks so pretty! The combo of the fresh watermelon, mint, and feta is sooo refreshing and perfect for when it is warmer. Definitely a permanent addition to my summer party menus!