Description
A vibrant and refreshing Sweet Melon, Curry Leaf & Burrata Salad that combines the sweetness of melon with aromatic curry leaf infused oil, zingy red wine vinegar, and creamy burrata cheese. Perfect as a light starter or summer side dish, this salad balances fresh fruit, fragrant spices, and creamy cheese for a unique and delicious flavor experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1 ripe melon (about 700g prepared weight), or a mix of honeydew and cantaloupe
- 1 banana shallot, finely sliced
- 2 burrata balls (125g each)
Dressing
- 5 tbsp olive oil
- 10 fresh curry leaves
- 2 tsp nigella seeds
- 1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tsp honey
Instructions
- Prepare the Curry Leaf Oil: Heat the olive oil in a small frying pan over medium heat. Add the fresh curry leaves and sizzle for 1-2 minutes until aromatic, being careful as they may splutter. Add the nigella seeds during the last 30 seconds to toast them lightly.
- Make the Dressing: Pour the hot curry leaf oil, along with the curry leaves and nigella seeds, into a bowl and allow it to cool. Then mix in the finely chopped green chilli, red wine vinegar, honey, and season well with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble the Salad Base: Cut the melon into bite-sized pieces and arrange on a large platter with the finely sliced banana shallot. Drizzle most of the dressing over the melon and shallots and gently toss everything together using your hands to coat evenly.
- Macerate the Salad: Leave the melon and shallot mixture to macerate at room temperature for 20-30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the fruit to become slightly softened and juicy.
- Add Burrata and Finish: Nestle the burrata balls into the salad. Gently tear each burrata ball open to release the creamy interior, season with a little flaky sea salt, and spoon over the remaining dressing for an extra burst of flavor. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Choose ripe, fragrant melon varieties for the best sweetness in the salad.
- Be cautious while frying curry leaves as they can splutter and cause burns.
- Adjust the amount of green chilli according to your heat preference.
- This salad is best enjoyed fresh but can be chilled for up to 1 hour before serving.
- For a vegan version, substitute burrata with creamy avocado or vegan cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: melon salad, burrata salad, curry leaf dressing, summer salad, Mediterranean salad, fresh fruit salad, easy salad recipe
