Batter Up and Fry: Tailgating Treats. “Grilled Watermelon Salad”

The Fourth of July is fast approaching.  It is the holiday made for grilling out with all of your close friends and family. It’s like a nation-wide tailgate ending in fanfare and fireworks.

One of my favorite things to throw on the grill these days is watermelon.  A few minutes on the heat turns the sweet summer treat into something almost savory and rich with the concentrated sugars creating a nice caramelized edge.  I actually love to just eat these alone as a light entrée, but to serve a crowd I will chop it up and toss it into a salad with arugula and feta. I guarantee this salad will be a hit in your holiday spread.

Grilled Watermelon Salad

1/4 of a large watermelon or 1/2 of a small one

4-5 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

5 oz. bag of arugula or baby spinach

1/8 c. extra virgin olive oil

1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

Slice the watermelon into pieces about 1 1/2″ thick. Toss these onto a hot grill and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until they have nice char marks and are heated all the way through. Remove the grilled watermelon to a platter and allow to cool for a couple of minutes. Then chop the fruit into large cubes.

Toss the watermelon in a large bowl with the feta, arugula, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Serve immediately.

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