These last few days, I haven’t cooked much. For me, nice weather is the perfect excuse to let hubby light the barbecue when he comes home from work while I pour us drinks and fix a quick apéro. My Latina blood loves this more than I can ever explain, hence the bitching when it’s cold (and it should be HOT).
The only action happening in my kitchen is the making of salads. I love salads, and I’ve probably said that a million times before. Even in the dead of winter, there’s no better lunch than a huge bowl of greens, a little protein and a nice, homemade dressing (I don’t use yucky stuff from a bottle, the ingredients scare me!).
Yesterday we had big, fat juicy shrimp on skewers and salmon fillet from the barbecue. I served that with two gorgeous salads and a small, sliced baguette with a little round of real butter scattered with fleur de sel and freshly-cracked pepper. Simple and delicious food without any fuss.
Today and tomorrow I will be sharing those salads with you. The first one is inspired by Nigella Lawson. In her book, Forever Summer (a favorite and one you really need to add to your collection!), she has a watermelon and feta salad with black olives. I picked up the book the other day and was once again reminded of all the inspiration it has given me. I must have made that salad a million times before. Just like the chocolate pavlova topped with cream and raspberries. Oh!
When trying to think of what salads to make last night, I finally decided to use a small watermelon we bought at the organic shop Ekoplaza on Sunday. I didn’t have feta or olives, so I came up with something a little different — and it was so good! Though when my daughter saw the salad she exclaimed: “Watermelon in a salad?? Eeeeew!” I guess it’s been a while since she ate Nigella’s salad! She loved mine, by the way. 😉
So here it is! My cooling and vibrant watermelon salad for hot summer days!
Enjoy!
Watermelon & Cucumber Salad
Serves 3-4
- juice of 1 lime
- 3 tbsps good extra virgin olive oil
- fleur de sel
- freshly-cracked pepper
- 1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 1/2 small watermelon, in rough chunks
- 1/2 cucumber, halved, deseeded and sliced
- 1 small bunch of parsley, finely chopped
In a large bowl, whisk the lime juice, olive oil and salt and pepper. Add in the rest of the ingredients and carefully combine. Delicious with fish or grilled chicken. Or all on its own!