Watermelon, Feta and Mint salad

Version en español 

Yes, I know, some of you of you are going to see watermelon and think “What?  In October? She must be kidding”…But here in the south of Spain it’s still hot and we are still eating watermelon (I know, I’m sorry…I’m really not trying not to rub it in).

Thing is, I’ve had a couple of requests for this lovely recipe that I have only recently started making, thanks to my son’s girlfriend Sheena. She made it for us served alongside a spicy baked harissa chicken and it was just fabulous. The contrast of spicy chicken with the light refreshing sweetness of the watermelon was perfect. So much so, I took it along to a barbeque the other day and hence got more requests for the recipe.

So apologies over.  Here it is: Watermelon, Feta and Mint salad…Sheena’s version of Nigella Lawson’s version.

Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad

• Half a red onion (or 1 small)
• 1-2 Lemons
• salt
• 1.5 kgs ripe watermelon cut in to  1″ -1.5″ cubes ( 3 cms)
• 1 handful of fresh parsley
• I handful of fresh mint 
• 1/2 pack feta
• 2-3 tbs olive oil
• Black pepper
• Other salad greens (optional)

 

Method

• Begin by preparing the red onion. Slice it very finely into half-moons and put into a small bowl with freshly squeezed lemon juice and salt. Mix it well and put to the side. within about half an hour the onions will have turned a gorgeous fushia pink and taste quite different.
• While your red onion is pickling, chop up the watermelon into small cubes and place in a salad bowl. Roughly tear the parsley and mint, cut the feta into cubes and add it all to the chopped watermelon. 
• Using your hands, squeeze excess juice out of the onions and add them, with the juice and any other salad greens if using, to the salad. The onions will be a little less sharp this way.  Add the olive oil and mix it all together gently.
• Grind over some black pepper and taste to see if the flavours are all balanced. You might want to add some extra lemon juice or a little salt. The combination of sweet juicy watermelon with salty cheese and fresh mint is surprising but wonderful!