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Watermelon salad with Asian style vinaigrette

Name: Watermelon salad with Asian style vinaigrette
Prep time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/4 seedless watermelon; 1 garlic clove (peeled and finely minced or diced); 60 ml black vinegar; 2 teaspoons sesame oil; 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes or 1 birdseye chilli (seeded and sliced); 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce; 1 teaspoon fish sauce; 1 teaspoon brown sugar; Freshly cracked black pepper; 100 g feta (crumbled); 2 tablespoons of fried shallots; 1/2 cup Thai basil or Vietnamese mint; 1-2 tablespoons nigella seeds or toasted sesame seeds

A wonderfully refreshing salad that is perfect for both entertaining as well as mid week suppers

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Summer came a little late this year. I have loved it all – from start to finish. After the longest lockdown the world has known, I relished heading outdoors and feeling the sun warm body & recharge my mind.

We have enjoyed many Summer evenings eating together on our back deck. Sometimes it is just the five of us. Sometimes there are a few more. Sometimes there are many more. And then there’s Ned, either laying by my feet under the table or doing laps of the backyard, delighted he has an audience to perform in front of.

We’ve celebrated birthdays out here on our back deck over Summer and we’ve celebrated each other. Good food has always been present. Whether it be something simple and easy on balmy nights like a big tomato salad and a piece of fish on the barbecue or big bowls of pasta or homemade pizzas on the cooler nights (definitely our girls favourites). And then there is this new salad; Watermelon salad with Asian style vinaigrette.

This salad is wonderful for both the easy nights and the ones where we are sharing our table with others.

This Watermelon salad with Asian style vinaigrette is a great salad for entertaining. It takes no more than 10-15 minutes to prepare (and that is being generous) and it can be prepared ahead of time and chilled if you choose. Just dress it at the last minute. Cucumber makes for a really lovely addition too if you have some in the garden or the crisper.

I love this salad with grilled fish, fried chicken (buttermilk chicken especially). It works a treat with all Asian dishes, thanks to the wonderful vinaigrette.

It is a pleasure to be sharing this recipe with you here.

And – if you could do with cooking inspiration that is pretty much on tap every month, I would love to welcome you to the new RM cooking club.

With love & wishing you happy days always,

Nellie x

For more great recipes like this one and lots of dinner inspiration, we’d love to sign and send and copy of the Relish Mama cookbooks direct to your door. Consider them your new best friend in the kitchen.

Watermelon salad with Asian style vinaigrette

A wonderfully refreshing salad that is perfect for both entertaining as well as mid week suppers

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Course: Dinner, Lunch, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: Asian, Asian fusion

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 0

Servings:

Calories: 122kcal

Author: Nellie Kerrison | Relish Mama

Cost: 10

Equipment

Chopping board
Chefs knife

Ingredients

1/4 seedless watermelon
1 garlic clove peeled and finely minced or diced
60 ml black vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes or 1 birdseye chilli seeded and sliced
2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon brown sugar
Freshly cracked black pepper
100 g feta crumbled
2 tablespoons of fried shallots
1/2 cup Thai basil or Vietnamese mint
1-2 tablespoons nigella seeds or toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

Remove the rind from the watermelon and slice into wedges.
Mix the garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, chilli flakes, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar ad pepper in a bowl or jar (with a lid). Combine and ensure the sugar dissolves.
Arrange watermelon on a platter.
Top with crumbled feta.
Drizzle over the dressing. Scatter with the fried shallots, herbs and seeds.
Serve immediately.

Notes

A great salad for entertaining. It takes no more than 10-15 minutes to prepare (and that is being generous) and it can be prepared ahead of time and chilled if you choose. Just dress it at the last minute. Cucumber makes for a really lovely addition too if you have some in the garden or the crisper.

Nutrition

I’m Nellie, cooking teacher, recipe developer and founder of Relish Mama.

Since 2009, I’ve been bringing people together around real food, recipes made to cook, share, and enjoy.

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