Watermelon feta tomato salad with basil vinaigrette

Delight your taste buds with this refreshing watermelon feta tomato salad drizzled with tangy basil vinaigrette. Perfect for a summer dining experience.

Ingredients:

• 5 handfuls spinach, lettuce or other greens
• 10-12 grape or cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 seedless watermelon
• 1/4 cup feta (ideally goat milk; or bulgarian cheese)
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 20 leaves basil
• salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Prepare salad: Wash and remove excess water from the spinach or greens, then tear them into small pieces. Slice the tomatoes into quarters. Dice the watermelon into approximately 1-inch cubes. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the salad.
2. Create dressing: Slice the basil into thin strips and place it in a small container (such as an empty spice shaker). The dressing is a basic vinaigrette (usually consisting of 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar) with a slightly lower oil content - combine oil, vinegar, a few twists of pepper, and a pinch of salt. Shake well to mix the ingredients. Dip a leafy green into the dressing to check the saltiness and adjust the seasoning to your liking.
3. Refrigerate the salad until you're ready to serve. Dress the salad about 15-20 minutes before serving (to prevent the watermelon from releasing excess liquid if dressed too early).
4. This salad is highly adaptable, allowing for various modifications: ** Experiment with different types of greens: both mild and slightly bitter greens like arugula work well ** Increase the savory aspect with capers or olives ** Introduce some sharpness with thinly sliced or diced red onions (pickling them quickly in a touch of white vinegar can reduce the strong onion flavor) or spring onions ** Explore different types of acidic ingredients for the dressing: swap white wine vinegar for sweet balsamic vinegar, lime, or lemon juice ** Try alternative herbs like mint or cilantro in place of basil ** Infuse some spiciness into the dressing with chili peppers

Summary:

• Calories: 918 kcal
• Fat: 77 g
• Protein: 11 g
• Carbs: 54 g
• Potassium: 1251 mg
• Magnesium: 100 mg