Watermelon Salad With Grilled Corn, Olives, and Goat Cheese

Photo: Melody Fury

Ingredients

1/2 medium-sized watermelon, chilled and cubed

4 fresh corn ears, husked

1 large red onion, sliced thinly

2 cups black olives, pitted and chopped roughly. Only use pre-pitted olives if you are

1 cup goat cheese or feta cheese

1 bunch of fresh mint, chiffonade

1 lime, cut into wedges

extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper

Preparation

Rub the corn with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until lightly charred on a hot grill. When cooled, slice off the kernels by following along the cob with a knife. Scrape off the remaining corn bits and "milk" and set aside.

In a large serving bowl, drizzle 1/3 cup of olive oil and juice of 1/2 lime over the watermelon. Add the corn, red onion, and olives and toss.

Break the goat or feta cheese into chunks and add to the watermelon mixture, along with the mint. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Gently fold until incorporated.

Garnish with mint leaves and additional lime wedges. Serve chilled.

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About

Juicy, sugary, and dribbly, watermelon is the ultimate fruit to feed a crowd with during summer parties. As lovable as they are when simply sliced up at a picnic or barbecue, this versatile fruit can be easily transformed into vibrant salads, frozen desserts, and even thirst quenching cocktails.

Playing around with contrasting ingredients to create unlikely flavours profiles riles me up. I love it when my guests look hesitantly at their plates at first, then burst out saying “wow, I never thought that would work” after a bite. Watermelon is one of those underrated ingredients.

Since fresh corn is in season, I took the opportunity to grill some up beside our meats. The slightly charred kernels pop with smoky sweetness. For the savoury component, I introduced a milky goat cheese and oily, briny olives that meld into an effortless dressing. The citrusy lime and fresh mint tie the salad together with a bright finish.

It’s just that simple. This light, yet robust salad goes superbly with any meat or fish from the grill. Some may raise their eyebrows at the black olive but they’ll be hooked before you know it.