Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint

Happy Day before Friday! How is your week going? Summer is heating up around here, and both my husband and I are starting to crave salads. One thing, I've been wanting to do for a while now, is to cook and prepare a weeks worth of meals on a Sunday, but haven't been able to get organized enough. lately to accomplish this. Something I am working towards. In the mean time, Lindsay has made two requests for me this week, one buy a watermelon, and two make stuffed peppers. So, I'm skipping on posting something sweet this week! I love the sweet, spicy, salty combination of this salad. In one bite you get a refreshingly sweet, and juicy bite of watermelon, with the creamy and salty feta cheese, and the heat from the Sriracha to balance this salad all out!

As it happens, I already have most of the ingredients on hand for a watermelon salad, except for the watermelon and the mint. The inspiration for this salad comes from one of my most beloved chefs Jacques Pépin. When I was younger, I would  watch his cooking show on PBS, late at night, after work, between reruns of MASH or Diagnosis Murder. It's the simple way he takes fresh ingredients and turns them into something extra ordinary, that amazes me. Two of my favorite recipes from him, include Strawberry Buttermilk Shortcake and his recipe for Roast Chicken.

With this recipe I tweaked a few things, one I just cut my watermelon up; he melon balled his, and he used Tabasco, I used Sriracha, or I would use Cholula hot sauce. You could also choose not to use hot sauce all together, if you don't like the spiciness. Another one of my strange food habits is, putting hot sauce of salsa, just about on everything, even my pizza. I know, I know, I'm odd. Please don't judge me! For me, the hot sauce enhances the flavor of the food, and seems to compliment the flavor of the mint. Believe you me, a little hot sauce goes a long way! Oh, and another ingredient, I didn't use were the Kalamata olives, for me the Feta cheese is salty enough, instead I actually wanted a little more sweetness, so I added some Mint simple syrup.

On a hot Summer day, this is a perfect salad to serve at picnics and barbeques! If you don't like Feta cheese you could substitute it for goat cheese, and for the Sriracha you could even substitute it for fresh chilis; serranos or jalepenos!Oh and before I forget the Mint, it really does cool the heat off from the Siraracha, and refreshes your mouth for another bite of this seriously mouth watering salad!

Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint

1 small seedless watermelon, about 3 pounds, peeled, and either cubed or balled

2 Tbls. Mint simple syrup

2 Tbls. Sriracha hot sauce

4 Tbls. Apple cider vinegar

2 Tbls. freshly squeezed lemon juice

3 Tbls. olive oil

1/2 cup mint leaves

Salt and Pepper to taste

6 oz. feta cheese crumbled

Mint leaves for garnish

1.In food processor, combine mint syrup, Sriracha, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil and mint leaves.

2. In bowls, add watermelon, top with cheese, and drizzle Mint/Sriracha vinaigrette.

3. Garnish with Mint leaves, season with salt and pepper!

For the mint simple syrup, take 1 cup of mint leaves chopped, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Return to low, and simmer 3 minutes, until sugar is dissolved. Strain. Seal in a bottle, and refrigerate. Store for two weeks!

Hope you have a lovely and relaxing weekend!

Until next time!

xo Christine

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