August 12, 2025
Crisp, juicy watermelon is a terrific appetizer, especially if you add savory flavors. Salty feta and creamy tahini made with lime juice and fresh mint rescue watermelon from breakfast status.
The communal platter of adorned watermelon first excites the eyes. Then that ahhh moment when the unexpected occurs as you enjoy the riot of flavor and texture.
Admittedly, this appetizer looks like a big fuss and bother. In reality, nothing could be easier than the make-ahead tahini sauce. Simply cut wedges of bright seedless watermelon and position on the serving tray. Drizzle the sauce artfully. Mint from the garden is best, but store bought will do just fine.
The best seedless watermelons have a creamy yellow spot where the fruit was allowed to ripen in the field properly. A good watermelon also feels heavy and has no soft spots. I admit the thump method has never worked for me. There are other ways to discern a good melon.
A nice variation on tahini paired with watermelon is Watermelon with Spicy Tahini Sauce, using aromatic and hot Aleppo pepper in place of mint and lemon juice for tart.
Make your tahini sauce up to 5 days ahead. Slice the melon, drizzle sauce, top with as much crumbled feta as you like and shower some fresh mint leaves, That’s it!
Lime Mint Tahini Watermelon
recipe by Michele Humlan, The Good Eats Company
makes about 1.5 cups sauce, enough for many wedges
ingredients
½ cup tahini
¼ cup fresh lime juice
½ cup water
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
one large clove garlic, zested on microplane zester
½ tablespoon honey
pinch fine sea salt
½ cup loose pack fresh mint leaves
wedges of fresh seedless watermelon
crumbled feta cheese
fresh mint leaves for garnish
directions
- In beaker attachment of hand held immersion blender (or small bowl of food processor), blend tahini with lime, water, oil, garlic, honey and salt.
- Once smooth, add ½ cup mint leaves and process until mint is finely chopped.
- May be made ahead up to 5 days; will thicken on standing; if chilled, allow to soften at room temperature about 15 minutes for easier pouring.
