July 23, 2024
Watermelon is plenty sweet enough. Notice that watermelon salad recipes add savory elements to offset the sweet factor : feta cheese, tomato, parmesan. One of my favorite pairings is melon and tahini. Although this Sesame Watermelon Salad has a touch of honey, the earthy silkiness of sesame oil and crunch of water chestnuts both add up to savory.
This is a great dish to take to an outdoor barbecue. Best right after it’s made, the salad is easy to assemble. It’s easy on the eyes and a good companion to each and every entree you can imagine.
For a more formal presentation, plate melon wedges on large or individual plates and spoon everything over the slices artfully.
Muggy humidity also calls for dishes that require no heat. Cool cubes of watermelon in a unique vinaigrette with crunchy(and healthy!) water chestnuts, scallion and sesame seeds make you feel the breeze. In the same fashion, use this brightly colored salad as a base for grilled protein. Avoid kitchen heat altogether with that plan in place.
Here’s my ideal summer meal. This watermelon salad topped with grilled fish and accompanied by our other summer favorites (roadside stand corn and tomatoes) in salad number two.
I like my sesame seeds untoasted here. Use a mix of white and black or all one type. Usually, Asian markets carry both in bulk; they keep well without going stale.
Sesame Watermelon Salad
recipe by Michele Humlan, The Good Eats Company
makes 5-6 servings
ingredients
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
5 cups large dice seedless watermelon
8 ounces water chestnuts, drained and coarsely chopped
2 scallions, trimmed and diagonally sliced
2 tablespoons untoasted sesame seeds – white, black or combo
directions
- In small mixing bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, honey and salt.
- In larger bowl, gently toss watermelon, water chestnuts and scallion with vinaigrette.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds over the salad and very gently mix.
- Enjoy immediately or chill up to several hours.
