6.21.2012

{fresh} Watermelon, Pistachio & Baby Greens Salad


It's wicked hot here, and there's only one thing on my mind. Watermelon. Sometimes you want a slice pure and simple, but when its this hot, it's tempting to make watermelon into a meal. I recommend you do. Normally, goat cheese isn't my go-to for a salad, but Selles-sur-Cher, with its musty blue-grey mold is the perfect ashy, tangy compliment to the sweet crunch of melon and young butter lettuce. Since most arugula can't take the heat of high summer, tonight's the perfect night to pick the last of yours, toss it together with your homegrown mint, crisp watermelon, goats' cheese and pistachios. While it's all crisp and cool, pour a glass of Tavel rosé {here's my new favorite} and let summer begin. 


Watermelon, Pistachio & Baby Greens Salad
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Serves 2 to 4

2 small heads butter lettuce, torn
Heaping handful of young arugula/rocket
Heaping handful of mâche, purslane, or watercress
1/2 medium seedless watermelon (about 4 lb/1.8 kg), cut in wedges and rind removed
1 small handful fresh chocolate mint, peppermint, or spearmint leaves, torn
1 tsp snipped fresh chives
Coarse white, grey, or pink sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 tbsp best-quality extra-virgin olive oil
2 to 4 oz/55 to 115 g tangy goat cheese, such as Selles-sur-Cher or Crottin if available, at room temperature

Divide the butter lettuce between two or four dinner plates or one large platter. Distribute the arugula/rocket and mâche between the plates, then arrange watermelon wedges on each plate. Garnish all the salads with torn mint and chives, and season liberally with sea salt and black pepper. Drizzle with your finest extra-virgin olive oil and top with pieces of fresh goat cheese. Serve straight from the garden, or crisp and cold from the fridge. 

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Sarah- This is a thing of beauty! Exactly the kind of light meal I like when it's blazing hot out. Stay cool back there...

Sally said...

One of my favorite combos, can't get enough of the salty-sweet-refreshing. It's all I want to eat in this blazing heat. Now if only I had some watermelon in the fridge tonight.

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New York City, United States
Sarah Copeland is a food and lifestyle expert, and the author of Feast: Generous Vegetarian Meals for Any Eater and Every Appetite, and The Newlywed Cookbook. She is the Food Director at Real Simple magazine, and has appeared in numerous national publications including Saveur, Health, Fitness, Shape, Martha Stewart Living and Food & Wine magazines. As a passionate gardener, Sarah's Edible Living philosophy aims to inspire good living through growing, cooking and enjoying delicious, irresistible whole foods. She thrives on homegrown veggies, stinky cheese and chocolate cake. Sarah lives in New York with her husband and their young daughter.