Watermelon Crunch Salad with Watermelon Poppyseed Vinaigrette and Watermelon Caramel Walnuts


Today is all about that quintessential summer treat: melon!  I love a fresh watermelon in the summer and while I’ve made the occasional Margarita or carved shark, I really just love watermelon as it is.


Today, I decided to highlight all things watermelon into a tasty summer salad.  Instead of just having watermelon chunks as a topping, I also added watermelon juice into the caramel on the nuts and into my vinaigrette!


The end result was a tasty salute to summer!


Look here for more watermelon recipes:


Recipe note:

For the watermelon juice, either gather the juice that leaks out while you cut the watermelon or blend watermelon chunks in a blender.  Either way, strain out solids before using.


Watermelon Crunch Salad with Watermelon Poppyseed Vinaigrette and Watermelon Caramel Walnuts


Watermelon Caramel Walnuts

1 ½ tablespoon watermelon juice

1 ½ tablespoons butter

2 tablespoon brown sugar

½ cup walnut halves



Watermelon Poppyseed Vinaigrette 

1 ½ tablespoons watermelon juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon stone ground mustard

⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon poppyseeds

Salt & pepper


Salad

Baby spinach

Cubed watermelon

Cubed avocado

Feta cheese crumbles

Fresh mint


To make the walnuts, place the butter, watermelon juice, and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Cook, stirring constantly until the mixture begins to boil.  Add the walnuts, and continue to cook and stir for 5 minutes or until the sugar is caramelized and thickened.  Pour the nuts onto a parchment lined baking sheet to cool.


To make the vinaigrette, whisk all the ingredients together into a cohesive dressing.


Place the salad ingredients in bowls.  Top with candied walnuts and vinaigrette.  


Comments

  1. Amy a lovely idea to use caramelized walnuts for the salad. Makes it more fun. A perfect summer time salad and filling too.

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