Labor Day Picnic-Perfect: Savory Melon Salad

BAY AREA, CA – The Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association, which oversees some 60 Certified Farmers’ Markets throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, offers recipes on its website to make the most of your seasonal fruits and vegetables.

The following recipe, by Mario Ishii Hernandez, takes melons to a new level as a delicious salad. Enjoy!

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SAVORY MELON SALAD

SERVES 6

INGREDIENTS

1 cup watermelon cubes or balls
1 cup cantaloupe cubes or balls
1 cup sliced cucumber
1/4 cup of olives, pitted, and sliced
6 ounces of sheep milk feta, hand crumbled
Olive oil to taste
Champagne vinegar or lemon juice to taste
Balsamico to taste
1 shallot, thinly sliced macerated in vinegar and pinch of salt
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Mint leaves to taste

PREPARATION

Combine watermelon and cantaloupe cubes, olives, sliced cucumber, the crumbled feta and the macerated shallots in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, champagne vinegar and balsamic. Season with salt and pepper; mix gently with your hands. Garnish with mint leaves.

Recipe and photo by Mario Ishii Hernandez.

For other recipes from the Patch files:

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• Last Minute Snack: Game-Day Guacamole
• Have s'more fun with these three recipes. (One involves Oreos, another adds marshmallow vodka -- YUM!) No campfire needed!

To find Pacific Coast Farmers' Markets in your area, click this link.