Sample watermelon’s savory side with this delicious spin on a summer salad—with greens, cherry tomatoes and goat cheese.
Grilling watermelon produces a fruit with a whole new flavor: smoky, sweet and irresistible.
Ingredients:
- 2.5 cm-thick (1-inch) slice cut from a whole watermelon, or four 2.5 cm-thick (1-inch) slices cut from a watermelon that has already been quartered lengthwise
- 15 mL (1 Tablespoon) canola oil
- 1.25 mL (1/4 teaspoon) each salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2L (8 cups) Boston, Bibb or romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces and chilled
- 60 mL (1/4 cup) (about 16) basil leaves, sliced very thinly or torn into pieces
- 500 mL (2 cups) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 120 g (4 ounces) fresh goat cheese, crumbled
- 125 mL (1/2 cup) extra virgin olive oil
- 30 mL (2 Tablespoons) red wine vinegar
Directions:
- If using whole watermelon, cut a 2.5 cm thick slice from it and then divide the slice into quarters. Remove rind and seeds from watermelon quarters. Pat pieces dry with paper towels. Lightly brush both sides of the watermelon quarters with 5 mL of canola oil and season with 1.25 mL of salt and 1.25 mL of pepper. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Place watermelon pieces on grill and cook over medium-high heat, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from grill and let cool for about 10 minutes on a double-thick layer of paper towels to remove excess moisture. Cut into 2.5 cm thick pieces.
- Toss together the lettuce, basil, tomatoes, goat cheese and watermelon in a large serving bowl. Drizzle salad with olive oil and vinegar. Serve.
Variations
For a more polished presentation, make what’s called a composed salad. Mix 2L of lettuce and 60 mL of basil in a large serving bowl and place hearty handfuls on four plates. Artfully arrange remaining ingredients (500 mL tomatoes, 120 g goat cheese, watermelon) on top. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar.
Chef's Notes
Try to find seedless watermelon. It will make grilling a whole lot easier and save you time.
Watermelon can be grilled up to 3 hours ahead of time. After it cools, wrap it in Saran™ Premium Wrap and store in the refrigerator. You can also store it in Ziploc® brand Containers with the Smart Snap™ Seal.
The lettuce can also be washed and chopped beforehand. Store wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel in Ziploc® brand Storage Bags.
