Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
Two 1” thick slices from a round 5 lb seedless watermelon, (about 8-9” in diameter).
¼ cup olive oil, for brushing watermelon and shrimp
1 lb medium size shrimp, shelled, deveined, and cleaned, (about 25 per pound)
8 cups of loosely packed baby arugula
½ cup of crumbled blue cheese, (optional)
fine ground sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
For the balsamic vinaigrette:
2 tbs balsamic vinegar
¼ tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp raw honey
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
¼ tsp course kosher fine ground sea salt
Directions:
- Soak 3 wooden skewers in clean, cold water for 10 minutes.
- Preheat a clean and seasoned grill to high.
- Cut two 1” thick slices of watermelon, you can either trim off the rinds before or after grilling. Save remaining watermelon for future snacking or another recipe.
- Brush watermelon slices, on one side with olive oil, about 1 & ½ tsp of oil per slice.
- You only need to grill the slices on one side.
- Lay the slices oiled-side-down, onto the grill and close the grill lid.
- After about 90 seconds, quarter turn (don’t flip), the slices to create crosshatch marks and grill for another 90 seconds.
- Remove to a cutting board and allow slices to cool while you prepare the rest of the salad.
- Clean and season the grill, then heat back to high.
- Skewer shrimp onto soaked wooden skewers, approximately 8 shrimp per skewer for 1 pound of shrimp, (or 10 shrimp per skewer if you will cook 2 pounds).
- If your shrimp are moist, pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Season with salt and pepper, and then brush fronts, and backs of the skewered shrimp with olive oil, about 1 Tbs per skewer.
- Grill shrimp for 2 minutes on one side, with the grill lid closed.
- Flip the skewers and cook for 1 more minute, lid closed.
- Remove to a clean platter; the shrimp will continue to cook, off of the heat, as they rest.
- Meanwhile, cut the watermelon slices into 1” cubes.
- For the vinaigrette, whisk together the balsamic, Dijon, honey, olive oil and salt.
- In a large salad bowl, toss the arugula with the balsamic vinaigrette and season with freshly ground black pepper.
- Sprinkle the dressed arugula with crumbled blue cheese (optional).
- Top arugula with cubed watermelon and grilled shrimp (removed from skewers).