This Watermelon Cucumber Salad Is a Summer Must-Make
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If you haven’t been marinating your watermelon, you’re seriously missing out. Marinated watermelon sounded odd the first time I heard about it too, but letting the fruit sit for a little while in a light dressing really helps concentrate the flavors and makes a fantastic base for a fresh summer salad made of watermelon and cucumbers.
This salad has everything: crunchy pistachios, crumbled feta cheese, and fresh mint leaves torn into little pieces. It’s basically summer in a bowl.
Start by cutting a seedless watermelon into cubes, or use a melon baller if you prefer your watermelon bite-sized and sphere-shaped. Mix the watermelon in a bowl with chopped shallots, mint, olive oil, and salt and pepper and let everything sit for at least an hour, or up to three hours. While the watermelon marinates, mix up a vinaigrette of olive oil and red wine vinegar with chopped garlic, shallot, and a bit of dried oregano.
Once the watermelon is done marinating, taste a bit to see if this marinated watermelon thing is all it’s cracked up to be. Then combine the watermelon and its marinade with crumbled feta cheese, sliced cucumbers, very thinly sliced red onions, and pistachios. Toss to combine and serve it on a platter, drizzled with the vinaigrette.
Fruit salad is usually an afterthought at a summer gathering, but this complicated, flavorful salad is a centerpiece for any occasion. To make it look even fancier, garnish the top with some more pistachios and a few fresh mint leaves. Everyone will think you’re basically Ina Garten.
Get the recipe: Watermelon Cucumber Salad from What’s Gaby Cooking
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