WATERMELON, FETA, ONION AND BLACK OLIVE SALAD

WATERMELON, FETA, ONION AND BLACK OLIVE SALAD image

Yield 8 people

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 (4- to 4 1/2-pound) piece watermelon, preferably seedless
3 large ripe tomatoes, preferably green or orange heirlooms, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 medium red onion
2-4 limes, depending on amount of juice
4 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 bunch fresh flat leaf parsley
3-4 Tbsp. olive oil
100 gm pitted black olives (optional)
250g feta
black pepper

Steps:

Peel and halve the red union and cut into very fine half-moons and put in a small bowl to steep with the lime juice for 4-6 hours, to bring out the transparent pinkness in the onion and diminish their rasp. Two limes' worth should do it unless they are not juicy and then you need to add more. Remove the rind and pips from the watermelon and cut into approximately 4cm triangular chunks. Cut the feta and tomatoes into similar sized pieces and put them both into a large, wide shallow bowl. Tear off sprigs of parsley so that is it is used like a salad leaf and add to the bowl along with the chopped mint. Tip the now glowingly puce onions, along with their pink juices over the salad in the bowl, add the oil and olives, then using your hands, toss the salad very gently so that the feta and melon don't lose their shape. Add a good grinding of black pepper and taste to see if the dressing needs more lime. Tip the now glowingly puce onions, along with their pink juices over the salad in the bowl, add the oil and olives, then using your hands, toss the salad very gently so that the feta and melon don't lose their shape. Add a good grinding of black pepper and taste to see if the dressing needs more lime.