Melon and Watercress Salad with Marcona Almond-Honey Dressing

Summary: I made this salad up one night during a bout of inspiration and was incredibly pleased. It is refreshing, zingy and just lovely all around.
*It was chosen as a Community Pick on Food52 and also featured in this beautiful article about cooking with scraps. 

Yield: serves 2-4

Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch watercress, washed, leaves picked off and divided in half*, stems reserved
  • a hunk of fresh cantaloupe or other such melon, sliced thinly into strips
  • 1 fig, slivered
  • 4 leaves fresh mint, chopped
  • blue cheese for crumbling
  • small handful Marcona almonds
  • 1/2 teaspoon honey
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • fresh lime juice

Instructions:

For the salad: Layer the first four ingredients, half-bunch of watercress through mint, on a serving dish and crumble the Blue cheese on top (as much as you like).

For the dressing: In a mini-food processor (or the like), blend watercress stems (about a half cup), almonds, honey and 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and squeeze some lime juice in. Blend again. Taste, adjusting salt/pepper/lime/olive oil to your preferred consistency and zing. Spoon dressing over the salad and serve.

*You'll have half your watercress leaves left over: make cucumber and watercress sandwiches! Another salad!