DISH NAME : WATERMELON AND FETA CHEESE SALAD

Preparation Time : 15 minutes + soaking onions 1 hour

Chilling Time : 45 minutes

Description

The sweetness of watermelon combined with the saltiness of the feta creates an ideal combination, specially on a summer day.
Feta is a curd cheese.It has a creamy, crumbly texture with a pleasant saltiness. It can be paired with both fruits and vegetables. Feta is commonly used in Greek salad. Pairs extremely well with watermelon also. It usually comes packed in a liittle bit of brine solution to keep it moist. It is better to keep feta in brine / salt solution. I got Feta cheese from Kodai cheese shop at Kodaikanal. It is available at Lulu hyper market kochi.It was made of cows milk using vegetarian rennet. Rennet are enzymes from the stomach of an unweaned calf, containing rennin and its used used in curdling milk for cheese. In case of vegetarian cheese microbial rennet or rennet derived from plants is used.
Also known as cider vinegar or ACV. It is made from Cider ( which is is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples) or from apple must (freshly squeezed apple juice that contains the skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit). Cider is obtained by fermenting apple juice with yeast. Its commonly used as a preservative as well as a flavor enhancer. It has a milder flavor as compared to wine vinegar. It is health benefical (compared to synthetic acidic vinegar)like all the natural vinegars. Available in supermarkets.

Note

1) Feta and olives have salt, so add salt accordingly.
2) Cashewnuts can be substituted with any other nuts like pine nuts, deskinned pista etc. But remember to toast them lightly before adding to salt.

Method

1) cut onion into half rings. Add salt (1 tsp.) and apple cider vinegar (1 tsp.). Keep aside for 1 hour. Onions will turn pinkish. Then squeeze out water.
2) Cut black olives in half.
3) Keep watermelon, cheese, olives and onions in fridge.
4) Just before serving mix all the ingredients, except cashews.
5) Then add cashews and serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions

Serve chilled.