Heirloom Tomato & Watermelon Salad
A vibrant and refreshing main course salad featuring the sweet juiciness of watermelon perfectly balanced with the rich, varied flavors of heirloom tomatoes. Enhanced with fresh herbs, tangy feta, and a bright lime-honey vinaigrette, it's a perfect summer meal.
Ingredients
- •2 lbs Heirloom Tomatoes
- •4 cups Seedless Watermelon
- •1/2 small Red Onion
- •1 English Cucumber
- •1/4 cup Fresh Mint
- •1/4 cup Fresh Basil
- •4 oz Feta Cheese
- •1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- •2 tbsp Lime Juice
- •1 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
- •1 tsp Honey
- •1/2 tsp Dijon Mustard
- •1/2 tsp Salt
- •1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- •Pinch Chili Flakes
- •1/4 cup Toasted Pistachios
- •Pinch Flaky Sea Salt
Instructions
- 1.
Prepare the salad components: Gently wash and dry the heirloom tomatoes. Cut them into wedges or large, irregular chunks, varying the sizes for visual appeal. Cut the seedless watermelon into 1-inch cubes. Thinly slice the red onion. Dice the English cucumber.
- 2.
Prepare the herbs: Roughly chop the fresh mint and basil.
- 3.
Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, red wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and optional chili flakes until well combined and emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- 4.
Assemble the salad: In a large, wide serving bowl, gently combine the cut heirloom tomatoes, watermelon cubes, sliced red onion, and diced cucumber.
- 5.
Dress the salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss to coat everything evenly without bruising the delicate tomatoes and watermelon.
- 6.
Add cheese and herbs: Gently fold in the crumbled feta cheese and the chopped fresh mint and basil.
- 7.
Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the toasted pistachios over the salad. Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt, if desired. Serve immediately as a refreshing main course.
Tips
- 💡**Ingredient Quality is Key:** Use the ripest, most flavorful heirloom tomatoes and sweet, juicy watermelon you can find. This salad shines with peak-season produce.
- 💡**Chill Watermelon:** For an extra refreshing touch, chill the watermelon cubes in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before assembling the salad.
- 💡**Don't Overmix:** Heirloom tomatoes and watermelon are delicate. Toss gently to combine ingredients and dressing to maintain their beautiful shapes and textures.
- 💡**Make it a Heartier Main:** For a more substantial meal, consider adding grilled halloumi cheese, seared shrimp, or thinly sliced grilled chicken breast on top.
- 💡**Adjust Dressing:** Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad. Adjust the sweetness with more honey, acidity with more lime juice or vinegar, or seasoning to your preference.
- 💡**Serve Immediately:** This salad is best enjoyed fresh. The watermelon and tomatoes can release a lot of liquid if left dressed for too long.
Recipe from TheCookbook.ai
Created by Basil Roux