As is typical of living in Southern California, we experienced our first “heat wave” of the season and all we really want to do is eat popsicles…by the pool! It finally feels like summer, and we’re looking for ways to stay cool and refreshed. When the temperatures approach the 90’s and 100’s, the last thing we want to do is turn on the oven so we’re always looking for healthy meals that can easily be prepared on our stovetop or over the grill…like this grilled watermelon and halloumi salad we created!
Having spent 2 days in Fresno learning all about the source of our food, I have an increased passion for buying local, particularly when it comes to fruit and vegetables. If you’ve visited your grocery store in the past couple of weeks, you’ll likely notice an abundance of watermelons! We’re in the midst of watermelon season, and apart from packing a ton of important nutrients like Vitamin A, B6, and C, this sweet, delicious fruit is a great way for staying cool and refreshed this summer.
Photo: Walmart
In California, many of our locally-grown watermelons come from Eagle Eye Produce, the premier grower and shipper of a variety of melons including cantaloupe, honeydew, and pumpkins. After the peak of the season, I’ll share some of their story so if you have questions about locally grown produce, I’d love to share them with the grower.
This week we celebrate the 4th of July, and I imagine that watermelon will be the highlight of families’ celebrations. Before you head out to pick up a watermelon, here are a few things you should know:
1. Look for a watermelon that is firm, symmetrical, and free from bruises, cuts or dents
2. Pick a watermelon that is heavy for it’s size, since watermelon is mostly water
3. Be sure to look at the underside of the watermelon as it should have a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground as it ripened in the sun
To celebrate the start of the season, I have a delicious gourmet watermelon recipe to share with you, but there is a bit of a backstory to it. Before heading out to Fresno to learn about the source of our food, I had already envisioned making some type of salad. Fruit dishes are typically sweet and I always like to veer off the beaten path a bit to highlight unique, unexpected ways to incorporate the fruits and vegetables we eat regularly. On the trip, I met Mary from California Greek Girl and Laura from Family Spice. They just finished writing a fantastic e-cookbook on Olive Oil and I can’t wait to tell you all about it! I shared with them my idea for a grilled watermelon salad and they were able to share some tips and recommendations including subbing Halloumi cheese for Goat Cheese (my go-to cheese for practically everything) and foregoing a balsamic glaze that would have overpowered the flavor of the watermelon.
Here is my recipe for a Grilled Watermelon and Halloumi Salad accented with a Pomegranate Vinaigrette!
- 1/4 Cup Pomegranate Molasses
- 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
- 1/8 Cup Champagne Vinegar
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Combine pomegranate molasses, olive oil, and champagne vinegar (you can shake or whisk the mixture)
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*Adjust vinegar to taste
- 1/4 Cup Pomegranate Molasses
- 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
- 1/8 Cup Champagne Vinegar
-
Combine pomegranate molasses, olive oil, and champagne vinegar (you can shake or whisk the mixture)
-
*Adjust vinegar to taste
- 1/4 Cup Pomegranate Molasses
- 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
- 1/8 Cup Champagne Vinegar
-
Combine pomegranate molasses, olive oil, and champagne vinegar (you can shake or whisk the mixture)
-
*Adjust vinegar to taste
This salad is intense (in a good way!). I had no idea how delicious grilled watermelon is (I’ll share my tips on achieving this in a subsequent post) and Halloumi may just be my new favorite cheese. The salad definitely has a mediterranean feel to it yet it’s simple enough to create on a hot summer day.
My kids love watermelon and because they’re in season, we’ll be using this delicious fruit for smoothies, popsicles, sorbets and more. I’ll leave you with 5 fun facts you may not know about watermelons!
1. Watermelon is 92% water
2. Watermelon is the most consumed melon in the US (by weight)
3. There are male and female watermelons, but the ones you consume are the female variety. The male watermelon has a different type of skin/flesh and doesn’t have the sweet flavor found in the female watermelon
4. The watermelon’s closest cousins are the cucumber, squash, and pumpkin
5. The world’s heaviest watermelon, according to the Guinness Book of Records weighed 268.8 pounds!
Note: All ingredients except for the Halloumi Cheese can be found in the grocery section of your local Walmart.
Recipe, Images: Rockin’ Mama unless otherwise noted.
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Looks just delicious and so fresh and appetizing!
Looks so refreshing – perfect for summer!
Really yummy for this hot summer days!