Cool watermelon salads that go beyond feta cheese
Replace the Greek cheese with paneer, coconut or halloumi
Salad bowls of summer are synonymous with crunchy watermelon paired with crumbly feta cheese. Drizzled with balsamic vinegar and topped with fresh mint, the ingredients come together like the cast of F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
“The sweet notes of the watermelon pair well with the salty-sourish feta,” says Praveen Jayram Shetty, Director of Culinary, Conrad Bengaluru. The balsamic vinegar adds a tinge of acid. It’s the perfect balance of complementary flavours—sweet and sour—enhanced with the tart acidic element. For a pronounced sour flavour and crunch, the classic Greek version has kalamata olives and diced cucumber.
If watermelon is the base, and the culinary principle of complementary tastes and textures—sweet-sour and crunchy-crumbly—are followed, one can elevate this simple summer salad to a fine dining experience at home. Think of adding sourness with lime juice, tomatoes and even aamchoor. Replace soft feta with tofu, paneer or halloumi. Sprinkle the mother of all umami ingredients in your pantry, kala namak or black salt, to make it both delicious and refreshing.
To think like a chef, Shetty says, “Ask yourself whether you will serve the salad as an accompaniment or a meal.” If it’s a meal, then add a carbohydrate component with bread on the side. For a complete meal, Shetty shares a protein-rich recipe with edamame: Toss a cup of diced watermelon with arugula, half cup edamame and melon seeds; prepare a dressing by whisking yogurt with honey, salt and pepper; mix in the dressing, drizzle olive oil and serve with toasted garlic bread.
Lounge spoke to more chefs who shared watermelon salad recipes beyond feta.
WITH COCONUT
Chef Marina Balakrishnan
Oottupura, Mumbai
Serves 2
Ingredients
For the salad
2 cups watermelon, deseeded and cubed
Half cup tender coconut meat, julienned or cut into desired shapes
1 cup cucumber, sliced (one-fourth of an inch thick)
1 tbsp mango ginger, cut into slivers
For the dressing
One-fourth cup tender coconut water
One and a half tbsp lemon juice
2 teaspoons light olive oil or extra virgin coconut oil
Half teaspoon cracked pepper
Salt to taste
10 mint leaves
10 to 12 blueberries
Method
Refrigerate the coconut, watermelon and cucumber for two hours.
Toss all the salad ingredients in a bowl.
In a jar, place the ingredients for dressing, and shake well.
Pour it over the salad.
Garnish with mint leaves and blueberries.
Note:
Mango ginger can be replaced with regular ginger .
Tender coconut meat can be chopped thin or medium thick .
Instead of blueberries, add roasted and crushed cashews.
WITH HALLOUMI
Vivek Tamhane, senior executive chef
BLVD Club, Bengaluru
Serves: 4
Ingredients
1 medium watermelon, seedless or deseeded
2-3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2-3 tbsp olive oil
1 small bunch fresh arugula, washed and dried
1-2 green apples, cubed
150 grams halloumi cheese, cubed
(Can be replaced with soft cottage cheese)
Orange juice
Salt
Black pepper
Method
In a small bowl, mix half the quantity of vinegar, olive oil, salt, black pepper, orange juice and make a dressing.
Marinate watermelon and cheese in the dressing
Grill it on the griddle till slightly charred. If possible do this on coal for a fetching smoky flavour.
In a bowl, mix the rest of the vinegar, olive oil, salt, black pepper, orange juice, toss in apple cubes, grilled watermelon, halloumi cheese and arugula.
Serve cold.
WITH PANEER
Arun D’Souza, Head chef,
Perch, Mumbai
Serves 2
Ingredients
For the salad
100gm arugula, butterhead lettuce or any leaf of choice (cleaned, dried and chilled)
4 cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters
Ribbons of 1 cucumber, soaked in ice water
One-fourth large watermelon, cubed and deseeded
One-fourth onion, julienned
5 olives, sliced (ideally kalamata or black)
For the cottage cheese marinade 60gms cottage cheese, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
Half tsp minced garlic
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
For the dressing
Juice of 1 lemon
Half tbsp honey
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 – 2 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette
4-5 green cardamom pods, cracked and seeds set aside
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
For the dressing, add all the ingredients in a blender and mix until well combined. Adjust the honey and vinegar to taste. Set aside in the fridge and leave for at least two hours. Remove and strain.
Marinate the paneer in the garlic and mustard for an hour at room temperature. Heat a pan over medium heat. Add a teaspoon of oil and cook the paneer until soft and coloured on all sides.
To finish, combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and toss well. Serve immediately.
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First Published:6 May 2021, 08:30 AM IST
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