Sunday, July 27, 2014

Juicy Watermelon salad with fresh mint + heirloom tomatoes

Melon season has arrived and there's nothing like sinking your teeth into a bite of crisp, sweet, juicy  watermelon. On the other hand, there's nothing worse than going to the market, knocking on twenty different melons in hopes of finding the perfectly ripe one only to get it home, slice it open, and realize it's a mushy grainy mess inside. If this happens, don't toss it in the compost but instead, do the next best thing and make hydrating watermelon juice. 

If you win the watermelon lottery that day and pick the perfect one, this recipe is a must! An explosion of electric Summer colors, this salad combines both savory and sweet with a variety of textures to please the palette.


When I don't have time to make my own, there are a few companies I turn too for beautifully done vegan cheeses including; I


Kitehill -Vegan Artisanal nut based cheese. I've tried the White Alder and Cassucio and they are excellent!


Treeline- Vegan Artisanal nut cheeses to rival those of France and Italy. I've tried the scallion soft French cheese and aged crack pepper hard cheese. Both are delicious but the aged cheese was outstanding!


Dr. Cow -Raw vegan aged nut cheeses. These can be hard to find but worth seeking out. I have tried all the flavors and each one has blown my mind! 


I am always on the hunt for the best vegan cheese and In the near future, will breakdown in detail and review a large selection of different vegan cheese companies on the market. Stay tuned... in the meantime enjoy this recipe!




Watermelon Salad with fresh mint and heirloom tomatoes


Salad

4 1/2 cups 1-inch cubes of watermelon
1 cup heirloom cherry tomatoes, quartered
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup red onion, diced
1/4 cup vegan nut based cheese, crumbled or cubed

Dressing 

Balsamic vinegar
olive oil
sea salt
fresh ground black pepper

Directions

1. In large mixing bowl combined watermelon, cherry tomatoes, mint leaves, red onion, and vegan cheese. Toss lightly until well combined.
2. Right before serving or plating, drizzle salad with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper to taste. ( the salad is so flavorful on its own I only did a light drizzle but I'll leave this one up to you guys) Serve immediately!

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