Watermelon Salad

No other produce screams summer quite like watermelon. It could be its refreshing sweetness or even the burst of color that adds a bit of brightness to your plate. It's hard to beat the simple pleasure of biting into a juicy slice of watermelon.

But the thing is, there's more to watermelon than just its flavor: It boasts some powerful health benefits, too. At 46 calories per cup, watermelon offers 20 percent of your daily intake of vitamin C and 17 percent vitamin A, according to the USDA. That's not all. Watermelon contains dietary fiber for digestive health and potassium, a mineral that helps keep blood pressure capped. 

Basil Watermelon Salad 

Cook's notes: This sweet and savory salad is fantastic with grilled meats or even as part of a brunch spread. Salting the cucumbers removes moisture before adding them to the salad mixture. Olives and feta crumbles can give the dish a Greek flair when added. The salad serves four.

Ingredients:

• 5-6 cups cubed watermelon (I used a combination of yellow and red watermelon) 
• 1/2 cup diced red onion or red onion ring slices 
• 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
• Dash red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or Tuscan-infused olive oil
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup 
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup each grape tomatoes, halved and diced strawberries
• 1/2 of an English cucumber, peeled and diced
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, diced
• 4-5 radishes, sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: 1/3 cup each feta cheese crumbles and olives

Directions::

• In a jar with a screw top lid, add balsamic vinegar, oil, parsley flakes, red pepper flakes, syrup and mustard. Shake well, or use a blender for this step.
• Pat cucumbers dry on a paper towel and salt lightly. Pat tomatoes dry on a paper towel.
• Add sliced radishes, strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, basil and drained watermelon in a bowl.
• Pour dressing over and toss to combine.
• Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 3 hours.
• Drain the watermelon mixture in a colander. Place the salad in a serving bowl and sprinkle with feta or white cheddar crumbles to serve.

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