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Home » Blog » Recipe » Grilled Watermelon Salad

Grilled Watermelon Salad

Cathy Roma Published: Jul 22, 2016

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This is summer on a plate! Grilled watermelon, crispy prosciutto and tangy balsamic dressing take this salad to the next level.

Grilled Watermelon SaladToday is the last day of a week spent with a couple of my girlfriends and their boys at the shore. The boys enjoyed the waves, beach camp and way too many ice cream cones. We enjoyed the sun, long morning walks, glasses of rosé and a steady stream of conversation.

Grilled Watermelon SaladThere’s something about staring at the waves from a beach chair set low in the sand next to a girlfriend that just makes the conversation flow. We talk kids, work, fun times we’ve shared and upcoming plans. We discuss books that we’ve read and hope to read, our favorite movies from our angsty adolescent days and silly, sappy songs .

Everything just seems simpler down at the shore, including meals. We grab yogurt and granola in the am, munch on leftovers from the previous night’s dinner for lunch, and make something fresh and light for dinner. A big salad, a little bit sweet and a little bit salty (and ideally paired with a crisp white wine) is the perfect meal after a day spent soaking up the sun.

Grilled Watermelon SaladI was inspired by the flavors of a traditional caprese salad for our final dinner together. If you’re not familiar, a caprese salad is comprised of fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes and basil, drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. I knew that I wanted to capture that summer tomato flavor and pair it with cheese and a sprinkling of basil in our salad. But argh! No tomatoes on hand and laziness prevented me from heading to the store, so it was time to improvise. I spied a half of a watermelon left over from the kids’ lunches and knew it would work.

Grilled Watermelon SaladFresh watermelon is sweet and refreshing, but something dramatic happens when it is cooked. It takes on a tomato-y flavor that goes well in salads or makes for a bright summer soup when it is pureed. For this salad, I sliced the watermelon in thick slices, drizzled it with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper and placed it on a hot grill. I seared the watermelon on both sides, then cut it into cubes and tossed it with all the salad fixings.

Peppery arugula, shaved parmesan, basil and scallions pair perfectly with the tomato-y grilled watermelon. Oven-crisped prosciutto crumbles and a tangy balsamic dressing round it out and make it a meal. Serve it with crusty bread, chilled white wine and a little girl-talk. Ah, summer.

Grilled Watermelon Salad

5 from 1 vote
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Grilled Watermelon Salad
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 
This is summer on a plate. Grilled watermelon, crispy prosciutto and tangy balsamic dressing take this salad to the next level.
Course: Salad
Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For...
Ingredients
  • Balsamic Dressing
  • 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

  • 3 oz thinly sliced prosciutto
  • 1/2 medium seedless watermelon
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • 6 oz baby arugula
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil chopped
  • 4 scallions white and pale green parts only, thinly sliced
  • 2 oz parmesan shaved
Instructions
  1. Balsamic Dressing: Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper.
  2. Whisk in olive oil in a thin, steady stream until dressing is emulsified.
  3. Salad:Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
  4. Lay the prosciutto slices in a single layer on the prepared sheet pan and bake for about 15 mins or until crispy, but not burned. Cool and crumble.
  5. Turn your grill onto high heat.
  6. Cut the watermelon into 1 inch slices and remove rinds. Brush the watermelon with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  7. Grill until charred grill marks show on one side, about 3 mins. Flip over and grill an additional 3 mins or until charred marks show.
  8. Cut watermelon into chunks.
  9. Toss arugula, basil and scallions with a small amount of dressing and spread onto a large platter. Scatter watermelon over the greens and sprinkle with shaved parmesan and crispy prosciutto crumbles.
  10. Drizzle with dressing to taste.
Grilled Watermelon Salad
0

Recipe, Salad Recipes, Veggie Recipes summer, 4th of july, vegetarian, arugula, watermelon, balsamic, grilled, main dish, lunch, parmesan, party, prosciutto, salad, side dish

About Cathy Roma

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    July 22, 2016 at 5:37 pm

    Sounds like you had a wonderful week Cathy. I agree, it’s always better at the shore.This salad is over the top gorgeous! Your photos have me seriously drooling! I LOVE everything about this beauty! On my list! Pinned!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      July 23, 2016 at 2:48 pm

      Thanks so much Mary Ann! Means a lot since your photos are always gorgeous!

  2. rebecca | DisplacedHousewife says

    July 23, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    Love the flavor combinations here!!! The sweet watermelon, salty prosciutto and peppery arugula. Perfect summer recipe!! xo

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      July 27, 2016 at 3:14 pm

      Thanks Rebecca. It’s definitely one of my favorite summertime meals.

  3. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    July 25, 2016 at 6:00 pm

    5 stars
    Sounds like you had a wonderful time at the shore, Cathy! Life is just better at the beach, isn’t it?! This salad is just perfect, girlfriend! As much as I love a traditional caprese, this grilled watermelon salad looks even more delicious! With the crispy prosciutto, arugula and tangy balsamic, this sure is summer on a plate! Your photos have me drooling! Pinned! Cheers, dear!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      July 27, 2016 at 3:15 pm

      It really is better at the beach. No question Cheyanne! And if you’re a caprese fan I know you’ll dig this!

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HEY THERE, I’M CATHY.

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

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