Grilled Watermelon Garden Salad With Lime Mango Dressing And Cornbread Croutons Recipes

GRILLED WATERMELON SALAD

Steps:

• Stand the watermelon half cut side down on a cutting board and slice away the rind, leaving a solid block of melon. Turn the block on its side and cut it into 8 squares, roughly 3 by 3 inches and 1-inch thick.
• Pour the vinegar into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook until reduced to a thick syrup consistency. Set aside.
• Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle just enough olive oil over watermelon slices to thinly coat and place on hot grill pan. Grill each side about 2 minutes until grill marks appear; transfer to a plate and season with salt.
• To assemble the salads, put about 1/4 cup of baby arugula on a serving plate, followed by a grilled slice of watermelon in the center, and top with a tablespoon of crumbled cheese and another 1/4 cup arugula. Add another watermelon slice and another tablespoon of cheese. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Finish each salad with a very light drizzle of olive oil and balsamic syrup. Dust with black pepper and serve immediately.

GRILLED WATERMELON SALAD WITH LIME MANGO DRESSING AND CORNBREAD CROUTONS

Steps:

• For the dressing:
• Put all of the ingredients except the oil in a blender. Blend on high. After the ingredients are blended, slowly add the oil and continue to blend until the mixture is thickened and emulsified. (Makes 1 cup.)
• For the salad:
• Heat a grill pan to medium-high heat. Drizzle the watermelon slices with just enough oil to thinly coat and place them on the hot grill.
• Grill each side of the watermelon slices for about 2 minutes, until charred. Transfer to a plate and season with salt.
• Remove the rind and dice the grilled watermelon into large cubes.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Toss the pumpkin seeds with the cayenne, sugar, and 2 teaspoons oil and place on a small baking sheet. Roast for 6 to 10 minutes, until golden.
• Brush the cornbread cubes with the melted butter and place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Put in the oven along with the pumpkin seeds and bake for 10 minutes, turning halfway with a flexible spatula. Remove from the oven when the croutons are toasted and golden.
• Toss the watermelon, shiso, dates, and chile in the bowl with ¼ cup Lime Mango Dressing (reserve remaining dressing for another use). Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the cornbread croutons and toss very gently to combine without breaking the croutons. Spoon the salad onto a large platter and garnish with the pumpkin seeds and cheese.

GRILLED "WATERMELON GARDEN" SALAD WITH LIME MANGO DRESSING AND CORNBREAD CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan to medium-high heat. Brush the grill pan with oil or drizzle the watermelon slices with just enough oil to thinly coat. Season the watermelon slices with salt and place them on the hot grill.
• Grill each side of the watermelon slices until charred, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Remove the rind and dice the grilled watermelon into large cubes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Toss the pumpkin seeds with the cayenne, sugar and 2 teaspoons oil and place on one prepared baking sheet. Roast until golden, 6 to 10 minutes.
• Toss or brush the cornbread cubes with the melted butter and place in a single layer on the second prepared baking sheet. Put in the oven along with the pumpkin seeds and bake for 10 minutes, turning halfway with a flexible spatula. Remove from the oven when the croutons are toasted and golden.
• Toss the watermelon, shiso, dates and chile in the bowl with the dressing. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the cornbread croutons and toss very gently to combine without breaking the croutons. Spoon the salad onto a large platter and garnish with the pumpkin seeds and cheese.
• Put the mango, lime juice, sake, vinegar, chile and salt in a blender or food processor. Blend on high. After the ingredients are blended, slowly add the oil and continue to blend until the mixture is thickened and emulsified.

WATERMELON SALAD WITH TANGY LIME DRESSING

Steps:

• Whisk lime juice, honey, mint, and oil together until honey is dissolved.
• Combine the melons and onion in a large bowl.
• Toss melon mixture with lime dressing to coat.
• Garnish with salt and pepper to taste.

GRILLED WATERMELON SALAD WITH LIME MANGO DRESSING

Steps:

• PreparationFor the dressing: Put all of the ingredients except the oil in a blender. Blend on high. After the ingredients are blended, slowly add the oil and continue to blend until the mixture is thickened and emulsified. (Makes 1 cup.) For the salad: Heat a grill pan to medium-high heat. Drizzle the watermelon slices with just enough oil to thinly coat and place them on the hot grill. Grill each side of the watermelon slices for about 2 minutes, until charred. Transfer to a plate and season with salt. Remove the rind and dice the grilled watermelon into large cubes. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Toss the pumpkin seeds with the cayenne, sugar, and 2 teaspoons oil and place on a small baking sheet. Roast for 6 to 10 minutes, until golden. Brush the cornbread cubes with the melted butter and place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Put in the oven along with the pumpkin seeds and bake for 10 minutes, turning halfway with a flexible spatula. Remove from the oven when the croutons are toasted and golden. Toss the watermelon, shiso, dates, and chile in the bowl with ¼ cup Lime Mango Dressing (reserve remaining dressing for another use). Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the cornbread croutons and toss very gently to combine without breaking the croutons. Spoon the salad onto a large platter and garnish with the pumpkin seeds and cheese. NoteUse stale cornbread from the day before to add texture. It'll be familiar yet wholly different from anything you're used to. From Between Harlem and Heaven: Afro-Asian-American Cooking for Big Nights, Weeknights, and Every Day © 2018 by JJ Johnson and Alexander Smalls. Reprinted with permission from Flatiron Books, a division of Macmillan. Buy the full book from Amazon.