Sweet & Savory: Watermelon Salad

I find joy in experimenting with summer fruits and grilled everything.  How sweet it is to pair the unexpected… For example, an odd couple like {watermelon + feta } makes for a surprisingly delicious salad.

This easy recipe was a big hit at a recent lunch party.  It’s so refreshing!  It would be great on a plate with lamb sliders or jerk chicken.

Watermelon + Feta Salad

Serves: 8

1 small red onion

2-4 limes, depending on juiciness

One 3 lb. sweet, ripe watermelon

 8.75 oz feta cheese

Bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley

Bunch fresh mint, chopped

3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4 oz. pitted black olives

Black pepper

Peel and halve the red onion and cut into very fine half-moons and put in a small bowl to steep with the lime juice. Two limes' worth should do it, but you can find the fruits disappointingly dried up and barren when you cut them in half, in which case add more.

Remove the rind and pips from the watermelon, and cut into approximately 4cm triangular chunks.  Cut the feta into similar sized pieces and put them both into a large, wide shallow bowl. Tear off sprigs of parsley so that it is used like a salad leaf, rather than a garnish, and add to the bowl along with the chopped mint.

Add onions, along with their pink juices over the salad in the bowl, add the oil and olives, then using your hands toss the salad very gently so that the feta and melon don't lose their shape. Add a good grinding of black pepper and taste to see whether the dressing needs more lime.

Serve immediately!