The Verdict is In: A Watermelon without pips (seeds) is not a real Watermelon.
Whoever invented watermelons without seeds did a grave injustice to summertime. Is there anyone among us whose childhood didn’t include a seed-spitting competition?
This is what came to mind as I prepared this week’s summer salad choice, Watermelon, Feta and Black Olive Salad. I first spotted this recipe in Nigella Lawson’s Forever Summer cookbook published in 2003. Oprah adapted it for her August 2006 issue and Martha highlighted it in an July-August 2007 issue. When a food blogging colleague recently reminded me of this tasty Greek combo, I pulled out my cookbook.
This salad stands out in any crowd.
Since I’m back in Colorado where summer is synonymous with potlucks, I see this as a perfect contribution to a food table. This Mediterranean salad is splashy, stealing center stage from the traditional potato salad and coleslaw. It’s tasty, with no hidden players. Everything – melon, olives, feta and red onions – are independent but swing well with each other. This salad likes to travel and will hold up just fine, if need be. A big crowd? It doubles or triples easily.
The lime juice enables the red onion slices to blush.
Maybe the Greeks can’t balance their budget but they sure can create a razzle-dazzle salad.
Nigella Lawson’s Watermelon, Feta and Black Olive Salad
Forever Summer (2003)
Serves: 8
INGREDIENTS
(the only adaption I made was exchanging walnut oil for olive oil and adding toasted chopped walnuts)
1 small red onion
2-4 limes, depending on juiciness (the more, the better, I think)
1.5 kg (3.3 lbs ) sweet, ripe watermelon
250g (1 cup) feta cheese
Bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley
Bunch fresh mint, chopped
3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil ( I used walnut oil)
100g ( 1/3 to 1/2 cup) pitted black olives
1/2 cup toasted chopped walnuts (my addition)
Black pepper
METHOD
Serves: 8
1.Peel and halve the red onion and cut into very fine half-moons. Put in a small bowl to steep with the lime juice and bring out the transparent pinkness in the onions and diminish their rasp.
2. Remove the rind and pips (seeds) from the watermelon, and cut into triangular chunks (see picture). Cut the feta into similar sized pieces and put them both into a large, wide shallow bowl. Tear off sprigs of parsley so that it is used like a salad leaf, rather than a garnish, and add to the bowl along with the chopped mint.
3. Pour the onions, along with their pink juices, over the salad already in the bowl. Add the oil, olives and nuts. Using your hands, toss the salad very gently so that the feta and melon don’t lose their shape. Grind black pepper to taste and add more lime juice, if needed.
Note: I bought a seedless (without pips) watermelon for this salad. I didn’t think it had the flavor of the regular watermelons I usually purchase. Not a scientific study, however.
Could not agree with you more!! Seedless watermelon always tastes plastic to me–I think it is the texture! I will be taking your recipe to a faculty picnic tomorrow! Will let you know how it goes over!
Gayle
That looks so delicious and perfect for summer! Yes, spitting watermelon seeds sure was fun, but messy. I am definitely making this over the weekend.
YUM. I can’t wait to try try this combination with watermelon!
A perfect summer salad…watermelon is so refreshing!!
Mary, your salad looks so refreshing and summery, you are right, it is a wonderful recipe for potlucks – I make a lot of greek salads but have never tried a version with watermelon, I am wondering whether the kids will go for it…well, I will just have to prepare it and see. Thanks for the recipe!
Yay, I’m so happy to see that you posted about this one. It’s one of my all time favorite summer salads!
This looks like a very refreshing salad!
I’m making this tonight! I have all the ingredients! Thank you Mary!
Wow, I’m impressed you have all the ingredients, Lynn. It took me 4 days to find everything!
Your post was the inspiration for me to make a similar watermelon feta salad over the weekend. Not sure if the lack of flavor was the lack of seeds, or if it’s just too early in the season yet for us. But you’re right about a good summer childhood memory of snarfing down a big watermelon wedge and seeing who could spit seeds the furthest!!!