Cucumber Melon Salad with Feta
A true homage to summer, this salad from The Splendid Table is cool, crisp and juicy.
Ingredients:
2 medium cucumbers, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1½ cups ripe summer melon, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
¼ cup mint leaves, torn
1 heaping tablespoon finely-chopped scallion tops
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon high-quality olive oil
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Sprinkle the cucumber with salt, roll up the pieces in a double thickness of paper towel and let rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Unwrap and pat dry.
2. Rub a serving bowl with the garlic. Add the cucumber, melon, mint, scallions, vinegar and 1 tablespoon of oil. Gently combine. Season to taste with more oil or vinegar, salt and pepper.
3. Top with the crumbled cheese and eat immediately.
Watermelon with Fresh Mint & Lime Syrup
Try this sweet-tart syrup with your favorite summer melon.
Ingredients:
1 watermelon
½ cup sugar
¼ cup thinly sliced mint leaves
Grated zest and juice of 1 lime
Method:
1. Stir the sugar, 2 tablespoons of water, lime zest, and 1½ tablespoons of the lime juice in a small heavy saucepan over high heat until the sugar dissolves and the syrup comes to a boil. Let the syrup cool completely, and then refrigerate it until cold.
2. Strain the chilled syrup into a small bowl and stir in the mint. Allow the mint to infuse into the syrup for at least 5 minutes.
3. Set the melon on a work surface and with a sharp knife trim away the rind and cut the melon into 2-inch chunks. Transfer melon to a large serving platter and pour the cold syrup over the melon, and serve.
Sun Ripened Recipes
No matter how you pronounce it, the word ‘tomato’ practically sings of summer, as well it should as the seasonal beauties are now at their best here in August. This week’s box pays homage to the ripe, juicy summer favorite with a selection of heirloom tomatoes, plus fresh bucatini pasta, sun-dried tomato-kissed Pomodoro bread, farm-fresh eggs, and smoky scamorza cheese all to help you enjoy their vine-ripened glory. A wealth of summer produce ranging from fennel and peppers to summer squash and cucumbers, plus ripe Tuscan melon and fresh-picked blueberries from Bow, Washington, finishes off this bright and beautiful lineup.
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Fresh Bucatini Pasta with Heirloom Tomatoes & Basil
Using top-notch olive oil and an authentic Grana-style cheese are key to this dish’s success.
Tian Provencal
If you are looking for a new vegetarian centerpiece, this baked dish is both gorgeous and delicious.
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Corn & Roasted Sweet Onions
Roasted sweet onion adds a wonderful depth of flavor to this refreshing salad.
Cucumber Melon Salad with Feta
A true homage to summer, this salad from The Splendid Table is cool, crisp and juicy.
Pan-Fried Peppers with Lemon & Garlic
Seasoned with slivered garlic, this Bon Appetit recipe is a favorite for enjoying fresh peppers.
Pickled Blueberries
These tart-sweet berries are a wonderful finishing touch for salads and sandwiches (try them on grilled cheese sammie crafted with this week’s smoky scamorza).
Changing Seasons Recipes
With dewy mornings and darker evenings, the subtle shifting of the seasons seems to be well underway here in the Northwest. The gardens are thus towing the line between summer and fall with the continuation of favorites like melons, blueberries, Thai basil and edible flowers alongside the arrival of such fall highlights as locally-grown corn, Jimmy Nardello peppers and the cooler-weather-loving greens. This week’s lineup includes all the aforementioned produce as well as sliced multigrain bread, farm-fresh eggs and a crisp apple Verjus from Sauk Farms; here’s to enjoying the best of both worlds this week!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Stewed Romano Beans with Tomatoes
Braising the beans lends them a beautiful texture without sacrificing any of their gorgeous color!
Pan-Fried Peppers with Lemon & Garlic
Seasoned with slivered garlic, this Bon Appetit recipe is a favorite for enjoying fresh peppers.
Green Bean Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
Tossed with a Dijon mustard and sherry vinaigrette, these beans boast bright, zesty flavor.
Sweet Corn & Roasted Potato Salad with Fresh Basil
This room temperature salad will be a hit at your next barbecue. (Plus, it’s a snap to prep ahead!)
Thyme-Apple Verjus Vinaigrette
One of our favorite dressings for fall; try tossing with sliced apples, roasted nuts and your favorite salad greens.
Pickled Blueberries
Tart-sweet and incredibly addictive, these pickled berries are a wonderful finishing touch for salads and sandwiches (try them on grilled cheese).
