Monday, June 08, 2009

ayun's salad

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!

21 comments:

2kamuela47 said...

I'm going to try this salad this summer! Thanks Kat!

Peter said...

I'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...

K and S said...

I hope you like it Laura :)

I hope you can find some reasonably priced watermelon, Peter!

Take care you two.
Kat

Jenster said...

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.

KirkK said...

Hi Kat - At first watermelon and feta seemed like a strange combination. But after I had it once at a local restaurant, I was sold.

K and S said...

I think it is the salty, sweet combination Jenster. If you get a chance, try it :)

Ooh you had this in a restaurant Kirkk? Must have been delicious.

Take care you two.
Kat

Eve in Munich said...

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

K and S said...

Hi Eve,

There 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

Rowena said...

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!

Abigail (aka Mamatouille) said...

Oh, man, I never would've thought of cheese and watermelon together, but that looks DELICIOUS.

K and S said...

Everything 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!

Me too Abigail, but after trying it, I'm a believer :)

Take care you two.
Kat

Asami said...

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.

K and S said...

Those are great reasons to visit Japan in summer Asami :)

Take care.
Kat

Deb in Hawaii said...

I love watermelon and feta--such a great pairing andwith the basil too. Yum! I always forget how good this salad is.

K and S said...

I am hooked on this Deb, I hope you make some too :)

Take care.
Kat

Coconut Girl Connie said...

ooohhh, perfect for Hawaii! thank you!

K and S said...

I hope you like this Connie :)

Take care.
Kat

Kim said...

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.

K and S said...

So true Pocky! If you try it, I hope you like it :)

Take care.
Kat

Unknown said...

Hi Kat,

Thanks for sharing this recipe. I tried it and it was great. Very refreshing and tasty.

K and S said...

Thanks Anuan, I'm glad you liked it :)

Take care.
Kat