Thai Watermelon Salad Recipes

SPICY THAI-INSPIRED NOODLE WATERMELON SALAD

Steps:

• Place 2 cups watermelon in a blender; cover and puree until smooth. Press through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl; discard pulp. Pour 1 cup juice into a small saucepan (save any remaining juice for another use). Add chili sauce, fish sauce, lime juice and ginger to saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is slightly thickened, 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat. Refrigerate until cooled., Meanwhile, prepare noodles according to package directions; rinse with cold water and drain well. Place noodles in a large bowl. Add carrots, red onion, cilantro, mint and remaining 2-1/2 cups watermelon. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. Serve with peanuts and lime wedges.

THAI WATERMELON SALAD

Steps:

• In a non-stick frying pan, heat 1 tsp of peanut oil over a medium heat and gently fry the garlic. Add the pork and stir until it browns, then cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer the pork to a mixing bowl and set aside to cool.
• Chop the prawns and add to the cooled pork with the chopped chicken and bean sprouts.
• In a small jug, whisk together the fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice and sweet chilli sauce, then pour over the pork mixture. Add half the fried shallots, the diced watermelon, fresh mint and coriander. Toss together and serve scattered with the remaining shallots.

THAI MELON SALAD

Steps:

• Dressing: Mix garlic, palm or brown sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, chiles, and lime leaves in a bowl. Roughly chop shrimp and peanuts by hand or in a food processor and add to garlic mixture. (The dressing can be made in advance and stored up to 3 days in the refrigerator.)
• To serve, arrange each variety of melon cubes in alternating rows on a platter or in individual bowls. Spoon dressing over melon in a strip and garnish with cilantro. Serve chilled.

WATERMELON SALAD WITH FRIED SHALLOTS AND FISH SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare the dressing: Combine garlic, chiles and sugar in the bowl of a large mortar and pestle. Pound into a fine paste. Add fish sauce and stir with the pestle until the sugar is fully dissolved. Add the lime juice and stir with the pestle to incorporate. Alternatively, you can combine the garlic, chiles, palm sugar (chop it into bits with a heavy knife or cleaver if it came in solid chunks), fish sauce and lime juice in a blender. Blend until the garlic and chiles are finely chopped, and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
• Prepare the salad: If using homemade shallots, skip to Step 3. If using store-bought shallots, toast them dry in a large skillet over medium-low heat until deep caramel brown and aromatic, about 3 minutes. (Alternatively, you can toast the shallots on a sheet tray in an oven or toaster oven at 375 degrees until deep caramel brown, about 6 minutes). Season generously with salt and transfer to a bowl.
• Combine watermelon, onion, cucumber, mint, cilantro, peanuts, half of the fried shallots and ¼ cup dressing in a large bowl. Toss to combine. Taste and add more dressing as desired. (Excess dressing can be reserved in a sealed container in the fridge for up to two weeks.) Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with remaining shallots. Serve.

WATERMELON-BERRY SALAD WITH CHILE DRESSING AND LOTS OF HERBS

Steps:

• Make the dressing:
• Combine all the dressing ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. It keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Shake well before using.
• Make the salad:
• Cut the watermelon into 3 x 1 x 1-inch sticks, flicking out seeds as you go. You will have about 6 cups. Chill the watermelon in the fridge for at least an hour.
• Combine the chilled watermelon and onion in a large mixing bowl and season all over with the flaky salt. Add the berries, lemongrass, and dressing, then toss gently but well. Drizzle on the olive oil, add the herbs, and gently toss once more. Transfer to a platter to serve.