Melon Salad With Sweet Sesame Dressing

Total Time: 17 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 2 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/3 cup unbleached sugar
• 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar or 3 tablespoons wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (or freshly grated if you prefer)
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted (sub half of the portion with black sesame seeds for color)
• 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 dash cayenne pepper
• 2 cups cut up seedless watermelon (read *note)
• 2 cups cut up cantaloupe
• 2 cups cut up honeydews
• 1 cup sliced english cucumber (if available try 1/2 cup each of english cucumber and lemon cucumber)
• lettuce leaf
• snipped fresh cilantro (optional)
• crisp cooked bacon, drained and crumbled (optional)

Recipe

• 1 *note: if you can find yellow watermelon, substitute half yellow for red watermelon.
• 2 in small saucepan combine sugar, vinegar, salt, and ginger. stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. remove from heat.
• 3 place dressing in a medium bowl. slowly add both oils to sugar mixture in a thin steady stream, whisking constantly until thickened.
• 4 stir in sesame seeds, sesame oil, and cayenne pepper; set aside.
• 5 in large bowl combine melon and cucumber. add 1/2 cup of the dressing; toss to coat.
• 6 line salad bowls or a platter with lettuce; top with melon mixture. if desired, sprinkle with cilantro and bacon.
• 7 pass remaining dressing.