Description
Ina Garten’s watermelon and arugula salad blends sweet summer fruit with peppery greens. Crisp ingredients and tangy feta create delightful Mediterranean-inspired flavors you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (0.9 kg) watermelon, ¾-inch-diced
- ½ lb (0.23 kg) baby arugula leaves
- ½ lb (0.23 kg) Parmesan cheese, chunk
- ⅓ cup (79 ml) olive oil, good
- ¼ cup (59 ml) lemon juice, freshly squeezed (2 lemons)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- Preparation: Arrange a generous layer of peppery arugula leaves and succulent watermelon cubes across a broad mixing surface, creating a vibrant foundation for the salad.
- Vinaigrette Creation: Whisk extra virgin olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, kosher salt, and black pepper until the dressing transforms into a smooth, unified emulsion with a bright, tangy character.
- Dressing and Tossing: Drizzle the vinaigrette over the arugula and watermelon, using a light touch to distribute the dressing evenly without overwhelming the delicate ingredients, gently folding to ensure each element is harmoniously coated.
- Plating and Finishing: Transfer the dressed salad onto individual serving plates, garnishing each portion with elegant Parmesan cheese shavings and a subtle sprinkle of salt to accentuate the salad’s nuanced flavor profile.
Notes
- Chill Watermelon: Refrigerate watermelon for 30 minutes before cubing to enhance crispness and provide a refreshing base temperature for the salad.
- Balance Dressing Ratio: Drizzle vinaigrette sparingly to prevent soggy greens, aiming for a light, glistening coating that complements without overwhelming the delicate ingredients.
- Select Fresh Arugula: Choose bright green, crisp arugula leaves with no wilting or browning edges to ensure maximum flavor and textural integrity of the salad.
- Shave Parmesan Carefully: Use a sharp vegetable peeler to create delicate, thin Parmesan cheese shavings that will melt subtly over the cool watermelon and provide a rich, salty contrast.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg