From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I've watched this group of women work their way through past challenges in which one member selects an ingredient the others must use. I wanted to join them but I suffered from lack of time or brain drain each time one of their challenges came up. I vowed to jump into the pool this time around only to find that this week's BSI (Blogger Secret Ingredient) is watermelon. I wasn't thrilled. I have a limited watermelon repertoire, but I had committed, so, watermelon it will be. My recipe is for a really lovely salad that's combines watermelon, watercress and mint with a few extras such as cucumber, ginger and feta cheese. The recipe first appeared in Epicurious. I've adapted it slightly to better suit the tastes of my family. The completed salad is chilled and tossed with a lime based dressing just before serving. It is lovely and I think it will please everyone at your table.

Watermelon and Watercress Salad with Ginger...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger

1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime peel

1 garlic clove, minced

2 cups 1/2-inch pieces peeled seedless watermelon

1 large bunch watercress, thick stems trimmed (about 2 cups packed)

1 cup 1/2-inch pieces peeled seeded cucumber (about 1/2 large)

4 green onions, thinly sliced diagonally

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint

3 to 4 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese (optional)

Preparation:

1) Whisk vinegar, oil, ginger, lime peel, and garlic in large bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2) Add watermelon, watercress, cucumber, green onions and mint to bowl; toss to coat. Divide salad among 4 plates. Sprinkle each salad with a portion of feta. Yield: 4 servings.

I'm sending this over to Kim at The Ungourmet for my first entry into BSI (Blogger Secret Ingredient). It's also going to Debbie at Mountain Breaths for her Kick-Off to Summer BBQ event.