Salad

Spicy Tomato Watermelon Salad

Spicy Tomato Watermelon Salad
I hope you have lots of tomatoes. Why? Because I have another really great tomato salad for you! This one is completely different from Tuesday’s salad – it’s really quick and full of spicy/sweet/savory/tangy flavor. You may recognize the gingery tamari-lime dressing from the cookbook and also from these rice bowls. It’s so perfect here because the contrasting flavors really make the sweetness of the watermelon pop. This is the salad that I’ll be eating until summer is over because it’s just so delicious and refreshing.
And speaking of pop – this one is a little spicy because, in my opinion, hot days call for hot food. You can add more or less jalapeño depending on your spice preference, but I recommend not skimping too much. The cool watermelon and the creamy avocado help chill down the spice. Somewhat 
I love to serve this salad as a side dish with whatever I’m grilling!
Spicy Tomato Watermelon Salad
Author: Jeanine Donofrio
Serves: serves 4 as a side

Ingredients
dressing:
  • 1 tablespoon tamari
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • ½ teaspoon minced ginger
salad:
  • 3 heirloom tomatoes, sliced into wedges
  • 5 cups cut watermelon (about 2-inch triangles)
  • 1 thinly sliced jalapeño and/or a few Thai chiles
  • 2 tablespoons Thai basil or regular basil
  • 2 tablespoons toasted cashews
  • ½ avocado, diced
  • Sea salt, to taste, if desired
  • Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
  1. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine the tamari, lime juice, vinegar, garlic, and ginger.
  2. Arrange the tomatoes, watermelon, and jalapeños on a platter or in a shallow bowl. (This salad should not be served in a deep bowl because the flavorful juices will sink to the bottom.) Drizzle with the dressing and top with the basil, cashews, and avocado. Season to taste and serve with lime wedges.