Melon Salad with Sesame Dressing
Melon Salad with Sesame Dressing is a fruit salad with lots of character that will liven up any dinner plate. Even melons with minimal sweetness are transformed in the sweet and tangy dressing. Use all or a combination of some of the melon ingredients for a zippy side dish.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 3 Tbsp champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tsp sesame seeds toasted
- ½ tsp sesame oil
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 cups cut up seedless watermelon
- 2 cups cut up honeydew
- 1 cup sliced seedless cucumber
- Lettuce leaves for serving
- Snipped cilantro optional garnish
Instructions
For sweet sesame dressing
- In a small saucepan combine sugar, vinegar, salt and ginger. Stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Transfer to medium bowl. In a thin, steady stream slowly add vegetable and olive oil to sugar mixture, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in sesame seeds, sesame oil and cayenne pepper; set aside.
Assembling the salad
- Line salad bowls or platter with lettuce; top with watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and cucumber. Drizzle with some of the dressing (about ½ cup). Sprinkle w/ cilantro and bacon. Pass remaining dressing when serving.
Notes
This is a great salad to make ahead of time to let the melon soak in the delicious dressing. Cantaloupe, cucumbers and honeydew can even sit overnight in the dressing but I wouldn't add the watermelon until 1-2 hours before serving to preserve the crisp texture.