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Karen Martini's tomato, watermelon and feta salad

Karen Martini
Karen Martini

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Tomato, watermelon and feta salad with wild fennel flowers (pictured right).
Tomato, watermelon and feta salad with wild fennel flowers (pictured right).William Meppem

This is a fabulous summer salad. The vibrant freshness of in-season tomato and watermelon are offset by the salty feta and hint of anise, while the tangy dressing adds a zesty lift, with the lemony punch of sumac adding real zing. This is delicious served with grilled lamb chops or a slow-roasted lamb shoulder.

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Ingredients

  • 1 white salad onion, finely sliced in rings

  • 3 ripe heirloom tomatoes, sliced

  • ¼ watermelon, rind trimmed and cut into 5cm points or 3cm dice

  • salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper

  • 200g firm feta, cut into rough 4mm slices

  • 2 tbsp wild fennel flowers* or some picked fennel fronds or 1 tbsp fennel pollen**

For the tomato vinaigrette

  • 1 large ripe tomato, coarsely grated

  • 1 garlic clove, finely grated

  • 100ml extra virgin olive oil

  • 40ml white wine vinegar

  • 1 tbsp sumac

  • freshly ground black pepper

  • ½ tsp salt flakes

  • 1 tsp caster sugar

Method

  1. 1. To make the vinaigrette, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

    2. Soak the onion rings in iced water for 5 minutes (this softens their flavour). Drain and pat dry.

    3. Arrange the tomato and watermelon on a serving plate and season with salt and pepper. Scatter over the onion, then spoon over the vinaigrette. Top with the feta and add the fennel flowers just before serving.

    *Once you're aware of wild fennel, you'll see it all over the place – maybe not on city streets, but it commonly crops up in any open spaces where the wind-broadcast seeds have lodged – by rivers and creeks, in parks, by railway lines. The flowers are a vibrant yellow and the fronds and soft seeds are just as tasty.

    **Fennel pollen is available from specialty food stores and delicatessens.

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Karen MartiniKaren Martini is a Melbourne-based chef, restaurateur, author and television presenter. She has a regular column in Good Weekend.

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Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/goodfood/recipes/karen-martinis-tomato-watermelon-and-feta-salad-20220203-h21hgk.html