Nothing says summer like the first bite of a watermelon slice in the sunshine. These February seasonals are best enjoyed for their simplicity and flavour.
Beans, beans…
Super easy to grow (although probably not in an RV!), beans make a fantastic salad ingredient. Check out local farmers markets for different varieties; you’ll find many more types than your standard green bean at most of them in summer. My favourite green bean recipe is to blanch beans for a couple of minutes, then drain and plunge into cold water. Toast up some old bread to make croutons, add some rocket, radish, and parmesan cheese, drizzle with a little balsamic vinegar and you’re done!
Whoopping watermelon
Apparently, Prince William’s wife Kate’s go-to lunch is watermelon salad with feta cheese, avocado, onion and cucumber; the perfect mix of sweet and savoury. We reckon she’s onto a good thing there, however the fabulous watermelon has a multitude of uses. The trick to picking a good one is in ‘the knock’; pick one that has an orange creamy spot (the darker the spot, the longer it’s been on the vine and has lost flavour), make sure it’s heavy, and tap it. As watermelons ripen, they lose their juiciness; if it’s overripe, you’ll get a dull thud. You want one that has a hollow, ringing sound when tapped. Enjoy sliced, diced – or simply cut off the top, blend the flesh until smoothie-textured and, if it’s that time of day, add a drop of gin or vodka!
Pantry Staple: Miso
Once you’ve discovered the joys of having miso in your fridge, you’ll never look back. A traditional Japanese seasoning, miso is basically fermented soy beans that has a fantastic umami salty flavour. Add to spring onions, ginger, a bit of fish sauce and rice vinegar to make an amazing soup broth base. It’s also very versatile as a salad dressing ingredient as it pairs well with lettuce, cabbage, oranges and green beans. I like mixing a generous tablespoon of miso with 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, a spoon of honey, some grated/sliced ginger, sesame oil and lime juice. Just whisk and pour over your salad. Delish!
