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melon salad, and something to (momentarily) divert you ...that's it!
Hi-Hi!
Did you read the piece about the cost of melons in the Hamptons? Holy Smokes! $400!! It’s ridiculous… especially in light of the cruelty coming from Washington DC this week… it’s hard to lift my head.
Here is a salad that will brighten your tastebuds… gotta start somewhere.
Watermelon Salad With Cherry Tomatoes, Fried Shallots, and Fish Sauce:
½ c homemade or store-bought fried shallots
1 small or ¼ lg watermelon, rind removed, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
½ small red onion, thinly sliced, put in a bowl with 50/50 hot water and red wine vinegar. Let soak while you prepare everything else
1 small Persian cucumber, halved lengthwise and cut into ½-inch slices
Large handful of roughly chopped mint leaves
Large handful of roughly chopped cilantro leaves
½ c roughly crushed or chopped roasted peanuts
Prepare the salad: If using store bought shallots, toast them dry in a large skillet over medium-low heat until deep caramel brown and aromatic, about 3 minutes. Season generously with salt and transfer to a bowl. If using homemade, which I did, super easy, just be certain to drain well!
Combine watermelon, pickled onion, cherry tomatoes cucumber, mint, cilantro, peanuts, half of the fried shallots and ¼ cup dressing in a large bowl. Toss to combine. Taste and add more dressing as desired. (Extra dressing can be saved in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.) Transfer to a platter and sprinkle with remaining shallots. Yum!
Dressing:
4 med garlic cloves, minced
2T chili crisp… or to your heat liking 🥵
3T agave syrup
¼c fish sauce
3T freshly squeezed lime juice
Zest from one lime
Combine garlic, chili crisp, fish sauce, lime, zest, and agave in a jar with a solid lid. Shake like your favorite mixologist!
Do you have a favorite melon salad?
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l loved this salad -- and to my surprise, my husband liked it too!
Ok your salad sounds and looks awesome, but, who would willingly pay $400 for a musk melon ( cantaloupe) even in the Hamptons?? Ridiculous! They have that much money they can just toss it away like that?! Sinful!