Watermelon Salad with Toasted Pecans and Gorgonzola Cheese

I love watermelon in a salad; it’s great with cheese and nuts and I especially love this Watermelon Salad with Toasted Pecans and Gorgonzola Cheese. Sweet and savory alike, it’s simply delicious.

Watermelon Pecan Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese on a Platter

Here we are, the last Tuesday of the month which means it’s Progressive Eats time again. I hope you enjoy these posts when my friends and I share a variety of foods that follow a theme. Have anything you would love to see featured? Let me know!

For this month I’m featuring this amazing Watermelon Salad with Toasted Pecans and Gorgonzola Cheese. If you’re not a big fan of Gorgonzola, it’s an easy substitute to use feta but either way it’s a must make!

This month the theme for Progressive Eats was selected by Carol who blogs at From A Chef’s Kitchen. She made everyone happy when she decided we should concentrate on watermelon; glorious summer watermelon.

I love those red, juicy slices but I also refuse to eat it until now. It’s like tomatoes; you can find it out of season but it’s not worth it. I want a ripe, red, juicy watermelon with real flavor that’s drips all over me and my kitchen, not a wimpy pink thing that’s mealy and miserable. Are you with me?

Watermelon Pecan Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese Served on a Round White Plate

This salad has long been a favorite; I’ve been making it at least once a summer ever since it appeared in the pages of Southern Living in 2008. I may have made some minor changes over the years but the one thing I haven’t done is to make it at a time that worked for sharing it here.

Sometimes I actually make dishes for friends and events and we just eat; no photos, no stories, just getting together around the table and enjoying some great food.

It was at a recent barbecue that I took this salad to where everyone raved about it so it moved into my ‘must make’ list for sharing it here with readers.

It’s simple too; watermelon is peeled and cut into 1/2″ squares, pecans are toasted and a dressing is made. Putting it together is just combining those ingredients with some hunks of Gorgonzola cheese and you’re set.

It’s so fresh and flavorful that I could forgo having it on the side and simply make it my only course. The dressing has some salt in it but I thought the salad needed a touch more, however, test it first and season it to fit your own needs.

Watermelon Salad with Toasted Pecans and Gorgonzola Cheese on a White Serving Plate

The salad dressing calls for Pepper Jelly; I had a jar of this Harry and David Pepper and Onion Relish and thought it perfect but most stores carry the basic pepper jelly too so it’s easy to find.

I made the salad yesterday morning because I was concerned about the light for photos; the forecast was for some gloom.

Once done, I had a completed salad with no company to help me eat it. What do I do? I put the word out on a Facebook page I made for my street; we plan neighborhood things there sure but it’s also where you might get a notice that Barb has a salad or a cocktail…fun huh? Five minutes and half of it was gone…perfect!

Progressive Eats

Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. Each recipe in our menu this month features Watermelon and our host this month is Carol who blogs at From A Chef’s Kitchen.

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats it’s a virtual party. A theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out. Come along and see all of the delicious summer dishes!

Wonderful Watermelon!

Appetizers

Salads

  • Watermelon Salad with Toasted Pecans and Gorgonzola Cheese – Creative Culinary (You’re Here!)
  • Watermelon and Burrata Salad – The Redhead Baker

Main Courses

Side Dishes

Desserts

More Watermelon!

PIN IT! ‘Watermelon Salad with Toasted Pecans and Gorgonzola Cheese’

Watermelon Pecan Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese on a Platter

Watermelon Pecan Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese Served on a Round White Plate

Watermelon Pecan Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese on a Platter
Print Recipe
5 from 9 votes

Watermelon Salad with Toasted Pecans and Gorgonzola Cheese

Luscious ripe watermelon is combined with greens, pecans and Gorgonzola cheese in this amazing summertime salad.
Prep Time20 mins
Total Time20 mins
Course: Salads, Dressings, Marinades and Sauces
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 339kcal
Author: Barb

Ingredients

For the Salad

  • 5 cups seeded and cubed watermelon
  • 6 oz Mixed greens
  • ¾ cup chopped toasted pecans
  • 1 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

For Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

  • 3 Tbsp white wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup pepper jelly
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1 Tbsp grated onion
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Make Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette
  • Whisk together first 6 ingredients.
  • Add oil in a steady stream and whisk while pouring into the other ingredients.
  • Prepare the salad
  • Combine watermelon and greens in a large bowl; add all but 1/4 cup vinaigrette, tossing gently to coat.
  • Transfer watermelon mixture to a serving platter, and sprinkle evenly with pecans and cheese. Season to taste with additional salt.
  • Pass additional dressing on the side.

Notes

There are a ton of different Red Pepper Jellies available; mine was from Harry and David but still the same basic ingredients (Red Bell Peppers and Jalapeno) as most others and available at grocery stores.
The Harry and David product was jammy and had chunks of both peppers in it so I had to put everything into the blender to get it smooth but I've had jelly before too and then blending it would not have been required.

Nutrition

Serving: 18 | Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 660mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g

 

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12 Comments

  1. I’m a huge fan of watermelon salads, and I’m not surprised this one is such a hit! And I’m totally on this Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette!!!!! That would totally rock on so many things!

    1. It is a great dressing Susan; I actually make a bottle of it while I’m at it; we enjoy it on any summer salad with a fruit component.

  2. I’m all over this salad! Besides being a huge fan of watermelon, I’m a blue cheese fanatic! I’ve paired watermelon with feta but never blue cheese. That’s going to change. The pecans are a wonderful addition!

    1. I’ve seen it so often with feta but love the blue cheese even more. It’s a simple delicious salad and so perfect when watermelons are abundant. Great topic too…thanks!

  3. What a great idea to add hot pepper jelly to the salad dressing! I’m a huge fan of watermelon salads though I tend to do Ina Garten’s with feta and black olives. Now you’ve got me pining for gorgonzola and pepper jelly salad dressing. Oh well, change is good.

    1. This is a nice change and while I like feta OK, watermelon and feta are pretty ubiquitous aren’t they. Bet you would love this!

  4. This salad sounds absolutely divine. I totally love how you sent out a Facebook message and shared it with your neighbors. I know the feeling of timing a dish based on available light. A blogger’s life!

    1. As we move into end of summer I realize I already need to start making adjustments for light. During the summer I can shoot all day; but as winter approaches I need to make constant adjustments to get used to having it all done by 2pm…can’t tell you how many times I will forget that! :O

  5. That vinaigrette sounds wonderful. And it’s peak watermelon season at the moment, so this is a perfect way to use all the great local melons we’ve been enjoying. Super stuff — thanks.

    1. Love the vinaigrette; it’s going on more salads it’s so good. And yes, peak season is upon us; I’m eating my weight in corn, peaches, watermelon and tomatoes! 🙂

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