Savory Watermelon Summer Salad

THIS is what summer dreams are made of!

I love watermelon- grilled, juiced, frozen into ice cubes for cocktails- it’s versatile. A savory summer salad is a fun way to enjoy the quintessential summer melon.

For this recipe I used a small seedless watermelon, so it made enough for 5 or 6 side salads. Just serving two people? Cut back, or make the whole thing and eat it over a few days. I seasoned and “dressed” the watermelon separately and then assembled the salads individually so none of the greens were left soaking in the citrus juice. There are also a lot of possible substitutions: Don’t have arugula? Spinach could work. No shallot? Try a red onion. No idea what cotija cheese is? Try a chevre or feta cheese. It’s versatile, so play around and enjoy something new.

Ingredients

• One seedless watermelon
• juice of 2 limes
• 1/2 shallot, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Arugula
• basil
• mint
• squash blossoms
• cotija cheese
• olive oil
• salt
• pepper

Cut up the watermelon into bite sized cubes. Add the chopped shallot, squeeze lime juice on top, sprinkle paprika, and toss to coat. Portion into a bowl and add some arugula, basil, mint, slices of squash blossoms if you have them, and some cotija (or feta) cheese. Drizzle some high quality olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

Rockyford Watermelon Juice Ice Cubes

Summer has been HOT this year. Let’s be honest- it’s not always fun. But locally grown Rockyford watermelon offers me the idea of respite from the heat as I happily remember NJ pool parties with watermelons floating in cold pools to cool off before being cut into. Sean and I have no pool, but we did put a local watermelon in the fridge. Keeping it classy:)

As much as I love the idea of watermelon while at the market, I have a hard time eating the entire thing. So, 1/3 of it got juiced and turned into ice cubes for some fun cocktails and mocktails. Warning: this post is a cocktail.

We recently parted ways with our juicer as it was used >2 times per year, so I just Vitamixed the watermelon with a little water to make juice.

Afeter chugging a glass, the rest was frozen in silicon ice cube trays.

These smaller trays are perfect for freezing individual square of pesto, vegetable broth, and juice.

Now, I’m no bartender, but this patio sipper is delicious! Three watermelon ice cubes, 2 ounces vodka, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/2 lime. and a splash of seltzer.

Cheers!