Loretta Paganini: Watermelon Recipes 8/14/12

2:39 PM, Aug 31, 2012   |    comments
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Watermelon and Arugula Salad with Feta and Olives

Serves 4

For the vinaigrette:

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

1/4 cup minced red onion

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 cup Extra Virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon Sea salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 cups loosely packed arugula, tough stems removed, washed and spun dry

3 pound seedless watermelon, rind removed, and cut in 1-inch cubes

1/2 cup feta cheese, 1/2-inch diced

¼ cup black olives

1 Tbsp whole fresh mint leaves, julienned Whisk together the orange

juice, lime juice, onion, honey, salt, and pepper. Slowly pour in the

olive oil, whisking constantly, to form an emulsion.

Place the arugula, watermelon, feta, olives and mint in a large bowl.

Drizzle with enough vinaigrette to coat the greens lightly and toss

well. Taste for seasonings and divide among 4 chilled salad plates,

serve immediately.

Watermelon Soup

(Serve 6)

 1/4 cup chopped shallot

 1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger

 2 finely chopped garlic cloves

 1/8 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

 2 tablespoons olive oil

8 cups seeded cubed watermelon

¼ cup fresh mint leaves

12 ounces light rum

1/2 cup simple syrup

6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

Salt & Pepper

Sprigs of mint, cherry tomatoes and spears of watermelon, for serving

Sauté shallot, ginger, garlic cloves and crushed red pepper in olive oil

in saucepan over medium heat until golden. Set aside. Puree seeded cubed

watermelon with mint in 2 batches in processor fitted with the steel

blade

Mix watermelon puree into the shallot-ginger mixture , add the rum,

simple syrup, and lime juice and stir to combine.  Season with salt and

pepper. Chill until cold.

Divide soup into six glasses and pour the soup into the glasses. Garnish

with sprigs of fresh mint, cherry tomatoes  and spears of watermelon.

Serve ice cold.

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