This vibrant and good looking salad uses the unusual but absolutely delicious combination of of creamy salty feta cheese and fresh juicy watermelon. An explosion of flavour bursts punctuated by peppery rocket, refreshing mint and tangy lime. Pretty as a picture, it’s a feast for the eyes. A perfect summer fast day plate of food.

It’s another of those salads that requires little in the way of preparation. A welcome respite on a hot, humid evening. Just slicing and shredding and an artistic assembly of perfectly ripe, seasonal ingredients piled high on a platter. Tucking into a very generous and satisfying serve of this gorgeous salad it’s easy to forget that you are fasting. There’s so much amazing flavour packed into just 181 calories. Most definitely my kind of 5-2 fast diet food.

Watermelon, Feta & Mint Salad with Pistachio & Parsley and Lime
Serves 4 (181 calories per serve)

500g seedless watermelon, rind removed and sliced into 4 cm triangles (150 calories)
100g Danish feta cheese (264 calories)
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, shredded (4 calories)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, shredded (4 calories)
2 long green spring onions, very finely sliced (20 calories)
100g wild rocket leaves (25 calories)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (120 calories)
a good drizzle of balsamic vinegar (10 calories)
a generous handful (20g) shelled pistachios (115 calories)
1 lime, finely grated zest and freshly squeezed juice  (12 calories)
sea salt and freshly ground pepper

DRY ROAST the pistachios by placing them in a pan over medium heat for a couple minutes until fragrant. Remove immediately to a plate and when cool chop coarsely. Set aside.
DRESS the rocket with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Arrange in an even layer over the base of a large serving platter.
ARRANGE the watermelon triangles over the rocket. Dress with a generous sprinkling of finely grated lime zest.
COMBINE the finely shredded and sliced parsley, mint and long green spring onions together in a small bowl. Scatter the mixture evenly over the watermelon.
CRUMBLE over the feta in good sized chunks. Finish with a sprinkling of pistachio and a good squeeze of fresh lime juice over the salad. Season with freshly ground pepper. Serve immediately.