I just finished reading "Dirty Sugar Cookies" by Ayun Halliday and what a great book it was.A food memoir, this book brought back similar food memories for me.
The author also includes several recipes at the end of each chapter.
One, was this watermelon, feta & basil salad.
The recipe is so simple and so delicious, especially with Japan's sweet watermelon.
(Now, while I wouldn't recommend visiting Japan during the summer because of the unbearable heat and humidity, I would recommend visiting Japan during the summer for the fruits! Peaches, watermelon, grapes, and melons all vine/tree ripened and delicious. You'll never be able to eat the fruit you find in your US supermarket, ever!)
Anyway, she recommends 4 parts watermelon, 1 part crumbled feta and some basil. I de-seeded the watermelon, and used the marinated feta that I had.
I must say that the marinated feta added a lot of flavor to this salad. This would be perfect for a picnic or barbeque.
I'm making this again....soon!
I'm going to try this salad this summer! Thanks Kat!
ReplyDeleteI'd agree that the fruit here is quite good, but you also pay for what you get. I'd love to make this salad, and maybe I'll give it a try some time, but the cost of watermelon alone will keep me from making it more than once in a while...
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it Laura :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find some reasonably priced watermelon, Peter!
Take care you two.
Kat
Wow, I never considered pairing feta with watermelon. Sounds unusual but I bet it's quite refreshing! Good luck surviving the heat and humidity this summer, Kat.
ReplyDeleteHi Kat - At first watermelon and feta seemed like a strange combination. But after I had it once at a local restaurant, I was sold.
ReplyDeleteI think it is the salty, sweet combination Jenster. If you get a chance, try it :)
ReplyDeleteOoh you had this in a restaurant Kirkk? Must have been delicious.
Take care you two.
Kat
Hi, I love your blog. This recipe sounds delicious and it is something different! Did you use any kind of dressing. Wasn´t mentioned so I guess you don´t. Greetings from Munich, Eve
ReplyDeleteHi Eve,
ReplyDeleteThere is no dressing for this salad, but if you use feta cheese which is marinated in oil, the juice from the watermelon and some of the oil sort of make a dressing.
I hope you like this.
Take care and thank you for stopping by!
Kat
I had to read that twice....all vine/tree ripened???? Oh yes, yes, yes I would go to Japan just for that. The fruit that we're getting now is like a roll of the dice. Earlier on we got a LOT of stuff from Spain from strawberries to peaches, and the prices matched the distance to bring them in. Now we're getting more things from Italy but they aren't that great. Always a disappointment when you buy fruit and it totally lacks flavor. Makes me nuts, because peach gelato just ain't right without that tree-ripened flavor. I can't wait til it's truly watermelon season for us...that last one we had was sad!
ReplyDeleteOh, man, I never would've thought of cheese and watermelon together, but that looks DELICIOUS.
ReplyDeleteEverything that is "made in Japan" is ripened, plus the shapes of them are perfect, thus we pay for the quality Rowena. I hope you can get your hands on some quality fruit this summer!
ReplyDeleteMe too Abigail, but after trying it, I'm a believer :)
Take care you two.
Kat
I love the summer in Japan! That's the reason why I've been there during the summer for three times. I really don't know why but my whole family likes going there when it's summer. Drinking ice-cold beer and eating watermelon.
ReplyDeleteThose are great reasons to visit Japan in summer Asami :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
I love watermelon and feta--such a great pairing andwith the basil too. Yum! I always forget how good this salad is.
ReplyDeleteI am hooked on this Deb, I hope you make some too :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
ooohhh, perfect for Hawaii! thank you!
ReplyDeleteI hope you like this Connie :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
This salad looks so delicious and refreshing! It's a perfect dish for summer. The sweet and salty combo is probably just plain awesome tasting.
ReplyDeleteSo true Pocky! If you try it, I hope you like it :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
Hi Kat,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this recipe. I tried it and it was great. Very refreshing and tasty.
Thanks Anuan, I'm glad you liked it :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
WUT!? I was just searching for an old photo of myself in Japan to share with a friend who's traveling there now, and this cropped up! Thank you for sharing the ripples about Dirty Sugar Cookies! xxx Ayun
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting Ayun, "fan girl moment", Take care, Kat
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