Grilled Watermelon Salad Recipe

Recipe courtesy Claire Robinson
Serves 4.

Ingredients
•1/2 (5-pound) seedless watermelon
•1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
•Extra-virgin olive oil
•Kosher salt (specialty salt is great here, if on hand)
•2 cups fresh baby arugula, washed and dried
•1 cup goat cheese, crumbled, preferably a French Chevre
•Fresh finely cracked black pepper

Directions
Stand the watermelon half cut side down on a cutting board and slice away the rind, leaving a solid block of melon. Turn the block on its side and cut it into 8 squares, roughly 3 by 3 inches and 1-inch thick.

Pour the vinegar into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook until reduced to a thick syrup consistency. Set aside.

Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle just enough olive oil over watermelon slices to thinly coat and place on hot grill pan. Grill each side about 2 minutes until grill marks appear; transfer to a plate and season with salt.

To assemble the salads, put about 1/4 cup of baby arugula on a serving plate, followed by a grilled slice of watermelon in the center, and top with a tablespoon of crumbled cheese and another 1/4 cup arugula. Add another watermelon slice and another tablespoon of cheese. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Finish each salad with a very light drizzle of olive oil and balsamic syrup. Dust with black pepper and serve immediately.