Watermelon & Feta Salad

In my childhood days, summer meant the arrival of watermelons and holidays. Or rather when you see lots of watermelons on the sides of the streets, you knew summer is not far away. Though I preferred the holidays more,the melons meant the expectations towards the hols and also a tension for the approaching annual exams. Even now, the melons are abundant in the summer but they are available throughout the year.Usually I like to have these as  such or occasionally in a soup. However the once I tried the gazpacho and knew that it was palatable, I decided to further experiment and obviously the next recipe was the classic Greek watermelon and feta salad.I was actually vary of trying the combo of fruit and cheese especially melon and feta. But I could not resist trying the recipe from food and wine esp after I saw this pic and it turned out GREAT. All the flavours intact it was irresistable.

Again this is not a traditional recipe of the salad. Hot sauce or even harissa can be added to this,but all those elements have worked together to make this a winner.I have adapted it slightly that I used mint instead of parsley.

Ingredients:
Watermelon slices : sliced into thick rectangles: few
Black kalamata Olives: chopped/sliced into rings
Red Onions: finely chopped : almost 1/2 cup +
Feta Cheese: 3-4 tbsp crumbled
Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley/Fresh mint leaves: little or as per liking chopped up + for garnish
(I used mint)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: 2-3 tbsp
Lemon Juice: equal qnty as EVOO
Hot sauce: 1/4 -1/2 tsp

Salt & Pepper: as per taste

Preparation:
Whisk together the oil and lemon juice till it emulsifies. Whisk in the hot sauce, salt and pepper.

Arrange the watermelon slices in the serving dish. Top with onions,mint,olive rings and crumbled feta in that order. Drizzle the dressing on top and serve immediately.

An excellent starter this is and much preferred during hot summer months but equally best in other seasons as well. You make it and taste and see how the flavors mingle and play with your taste buds. The sweetness of melon gives way to the heat of the sauce and the tanginess of the olives and then leaves with us the citrus flavours and the freshness of mint. Adjust the quantities as per you need.A super trouper salad.