Flavors blend for cool summer snack
Here's a delightful nibble to pop in your mouth as you sip rose by the pool or lounge at home with the air conditioner at full blast.
This refreshing finger food makes the most of watermelon's affinity with soft, fresh goat cheese. The two not only look contrastingly beautiful together, the creamy, slightly salty chevre also amplifies the fruit's sweet juiciness.
The watermelon is cut into bite-size squares — an upgrade from a cracker delivery system — and topped with whipped goat cheese that is flecked with chopped fresh herbs and a sprinkle of lemon zest. The finishing touches of a honey-lemon dressing, flaky sea salt and a shower of chopped basil bridge the sweet-savory elements in each bite.
Served as a snack or appetizer, it's a treat you can add to the list of summer's many simple pleasures. Watermelon with herbed goat cheese whip mint, lemon zest and black pepper; cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Use a fork to whisk the oil, lemon juice, honey and teaspoon of the salt in a liquid measuring cup. Taste and add more honey as needed.
Cut away the rind from the watermelon, then cut the melon into 1-inch squares about ½-inch-thick, until you have 24 squares of melon. (Reserve any leftover melon for another use.)
Arrange the melon squares on a platter. Dollop about 1 teaspoon of the whipped cheese on top of each piece of melon. Drizzle the dressing on top, and around the platter, then sprinkle with the remaining
teaspoon of salt, garnish with additional chopped basil and serve right away.
PER SERVING (based on 6):
90 calories, 4 g protein, 4 g carbohydrates, 0 fiber, 3 g sugar, 6 g fat (3 g saturated), 10 mg cholesterol, 135 mg sodium