Jan 28, 2020

*Wonderful* Watermelon Tomato Salad


I've been culling my cookbook collection  again in preparation for a  move to  a new, smaller home.  It's quite painful each time  I place one on the 'donate' pile  but it does cause me to peruse them  just in case  there are forgotten treasures in them.   This simple, quirky recipe from an old Southern  Living magazine  recipe book  qualifies as a treasure  and as a bonus, serves as a conversation piece too. I'm happy to rediscover it!

The odd combination is just great, and when both the tomato and watermelon are in season, cant be  beat for flavor.    If you buy watermelon out of season,  taste it.... if needed, add a tad more sugar.  There's not much you can do to doctor up a bad winter tomato, but I take my chances and its always tasty anyway.    Mom Tip:  This might be the  sweet salad that tricks  some youngsters into enjoying tomatoes, if they don't already.  The  melon and tomato look and taste  just about identical.  

 For 4-6 addictive servings,  use 5 cups of  COLD seeded watermelon cut in 3/4 inch cubes, and 1.5 lbs. of COLD ripe tomatoes,  also cut in 3/4 inch cubes.  Its vital to have them the same size  so a forkful will deliver both items in one bite.   Sprinkle them with a TB of sugar and 1 tsp salt and toss gently to coat.  Let it stand 5 minutes.

Slice a small red onion very thinly,   then in quarters, and soak in ice water for 15 minutes before draining well. They get sweetly pickled in the marinade too..

Stir together 1/2 c red wine vinegar and 1/4c  "x v" olive oil and add the onions.  Add to the bowl of fruit, cover and chill at least 2 hours.  Gently toss a time or two. Serve icy  cold, on  field greens, romaine leaves or coarsely chopped romaine sprinkled with fresh black pepper.  Serve with a slotted spoon but  it's a juicy salad, so you might want  to serve with a spoon as well so your guests  can  enjoy   the delicious juice.