Blackened Watermelon Salad

By nancytripp

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 4 lbs watermelon, seeded
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tsp Old Bay or other blackened seasoning mix
• 6 cups salad greens
• 1/2 cup spiced or sweetened pecans, chopped
• 2 tbsp crumbled feta
• 1/2 lb sugar snap peas, blanched
• For the vinaigrette
• 1 cup watermelon
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp honey
• kosher or sea salt
• fresh black pepper
• 3/4 cup olive oil

Details

Servings 4

Preparation

Step 1

Bring balsamic to boil over medium-high heat. Lower heat and cook until reduced to about 2 tbsp. remove from heat. Cut melon into 12 two-inch squares 3/4 of an inch thick. Reserve excess for vinaigrette. Dust one face of squares with seasoning and set aside

Lightly coat bottom of large saute pan with oil and heat until very hot. Working in batches, sear melon squares for about 20 seconds, seasoned side down. Remove and cool, seasoned side up.
Drizzle balsamic reduction in four plates and place melon, blackened side up, on the reduction. In a mixing bowl, toss remaining ingredients with vinaigrette (below). arrange alongside watermelon.

For the vinaigrette
1 cup watermelon
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp honey
kosher or sea salt
fresh black pepper
3/4 cup olive oil

Place everything but the oil in a blender and blend until smooth. Slowly add oil until emulsified. Adjust seasoning.