Sweet And Salty Melon Salad With Lemongrass Vinaigrette

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh gingerroot
• 1 sprig lemongrass, finely chopped ( part only)
• 2 kaffir lime leaves, thinly sliced (or grated zest of 1 lime)
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup thai fish sauce
• 1 red fresno chile, seeded and minced
• 1 1/2 lbs watermelon
• 1 lb cantaloupe, peeled and seeded
• 1 lb honeydew melon, peeled and seeded
• 1 grated lemon, zest of
• 1/2 bunch basil leaves
• 1/2 cup chopped, toasted peanuts

Recipe

• 1 to make a dressing, combine sugar, water, ginger, lemongrass, and lime leaves in a medium saucepan.
• 2 bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• 3 immediately remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes.
• 4 strain through a fine sieve into a bowl.
• 5 add the lemon juice, lime juice, fish sauce, and chile, and mix well.
• 6 let cool to room temperature.
• 7 using a potato peeler or sharp knife, remove the green rind from the watermelon.
• 8 cut away the flesh and thinly slice it.
• 9 cut the red flesh into large dice (discard seeds, if desired) and place in a large bowl, along with the slices of .
• 10 cut the cantaloupe and honeydew into large dice and add to the watermelon.
• 11 add the lemon zest and basil leaves.
• 12 drizzle the dressing over the fruit and let stand for at least 10 minutes, but no longer than 2 hours.
• 13 garnish with the peanuts just before serving.