Cutest Watermelon Basil Salad Ever

I don’ t usually post three times a week, but I made a watermelon basil salad this week and I just had to share the twist I added. I picked up a handful of little bento vegetable cutters for $4 from a hardware store in Japantown that look like the cutest, tiniest cookie cutters you’ve ever seen. I used them to cut out shapes of watermelon, canteloupe, and honeydew melon for a refreshing melon salad that impressed everyone at the table. It’s funny how I never thought to use cutters to make my salads more interesting. I think I might try this more often, and those of you with kids might find it a great inroad to getting your young’ins to eat more fruits and vegetables.

The cheese I use here in a Greek variety called Kefalotyri, a wonderfully salty cheese that squeaks when you eat it and makes watermelon nearly burst with a before-undiscovered level of sweetness. Pop! The fresh flavor consumed the entirety of my taste sensors, sending me into a euphoric state of fruity, late summer bliss. If you can’t find Kefalotyri, go ahead and use French feta (which is stronger and saltier than standard feta), regular feta, queso fresco, haloumi, or heck, even salty marinated tofu, if you’re vegan. A splash of grapeseed oil pulls it all together, but you can also use olive oil – the fruiter the oil, the better.

Watermelon Basil Salad with Kefalotyri Cheese

Kefalotyri, a stout Greek cheese, is perfect for mingling in this watermelon basil salad. If you can't find Kefalotyri, you can substitute feta (preferably French), queso fresco, haloumi, or chevre. The original recipe calls for three types of melon, but feel free to use all watermelon instead.

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: Greek

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 213kcal

Author: Stephanie Stiavetti

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound watermelon cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
• 1/2 pound honeydew melon cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
• 1/2 pound cantaloupe cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice (or more, if you like your salad really tart)
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 3/4 pound Kefalotyri cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil or fruity olive oil

Instructions

• Using these vegetables cutters or your choice of other tiny cookie cutters, cut your melon slices into as many little shapes as you can get out of each slice.
• In a large bowl toss together melon, basil, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Add ketalotyri or the cheese of your choice, crumbling gently with your fingers. Using a wooden spoon, gently fold the salad while dribbling in the oil. Taste and add more salt, if you like. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Nutritional analysis is based on using feta cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 726mg | Potassium: 203mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 1150IU | Vitamin C: 28.9mg | Calcium: 300mg | Iron: 0.5mg

This content was originally posted on FearlessFresh.com.