Monday, March 30th Recipe

I am still working on the format of my blog, but I would like to post a recipe every Monday. This one is in response to a comment for a tasty side to accompany BBQ. Although it's not a traditional Texas BBQ side, it is a very refreshing side that would pair well with spicy entrées!

Watermelon salad with feta cheese and pickled red onion

Ingredients

1 large seedless watermelon, rind removed and cut into 1" cubes

1 red onion, julienned

4 oz fresh feta cheese, crumbled

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups champagne vinegar

2 cups water

1/4 cup kosher salt

¼ cup pickling spices

1 scallion, julienned on bias

Extra virgin olive oil, as needed

1. Combine sugar, champagne vinegar, water, salt, and picking spices. Bring mixture to a boil in an aluminum pot. Remove mixture from the heat and strain out the pickling spices from the pickling liquid. Add in the julienned red onion. Let the onion sit in the pickling liquid for 2 hours.
2. Pour the onion and pickling liquid into a strainer. Save the liquid for the finished salad
3. In a large bowl, add the cubed watermelon, crumbled feta cheese, and pickled red onion. Lightly dress the salad with extra virgin olive oil, and some of the reserved pickling liquid
4. Plate the salad in individual bowls and top with the julienned scallion.

The sweetness of the watermelon, combined with the creaminess of the feta cheese pair well with the tartness of the pickled red onion. All the ingredients combine to create an incredibly refreshing side!