Simple Sundays | Fig & Watermelon Salad

When I returned from vacation over a week ago, the cupboards and refrigerator were bare. As soon as I could, I went to the market, and I was not particularly enthused about the shopping trip since I was still feeling a little sad that our time away was over. Back to reality. Blech.

But I turned past the bananas and saw these:

Figs! The first I have seen this summer! It was as though they were welcoming me back home. See, Liren, isn’t it great to be back in California? they called out to me.

You know how much I love my figs. My heart leapt with joy. I enjoy them simply, usually just fresh, with morsels of goat cheese and drizzled with honey. But of course, I like to mess with them once in a while.

For the sweltering Fourth of July weekend, I paired them with the ultimate thirst quencher in a Fig & Watermelon Salad.

This was the secret. A rich sable glaze, made with balsamic vinegar and agave nectar. A drizzle of the Balsamic Glaze over the crisp melon, velvety figs, and bites of goat cheese was all I needed.

Who needs Hawaii, anyway? Wait, don’t answer that :)

[framed_box width="628" bgColor="undefined" textColor="undefined" rounded="true"]

Fig & Watermelon Salad with Balsamic Glaze

Serves 4-6.

There are a few ways to go about this. All taste wonderfully, so choose what works best for you and enjoy!

If you are pressed for time, simply whisk together the ingredients for the glaze with a little glug of good olive oil and you have an easy and bright dressing.
Prepare the glaze and combine with a bit of olive oil for a silkier dressing.
Prepare the glaze and drizzle all by itself.

INGREDIENTS

6 figs, quartered
1 1/2 cups cubed watermelon
your favorite greens
goat cheese, crumbled for garnish
Balsamic Glaze (see recipe below)

METHOD

Arrange figs and watermelon atop your favorite greens. Crumble the bites of goat cheese to your liking. Drizzle with Balsamic Glaze/Dressing.

Balsamic Glaze

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons agave nectar or honey

METHOD

Combine balsamic vinegar and agave nectar (or honey) in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and simmer, stirring, until the glaze has reduced and the consistency is thicker, about 10 minutes. Keep in mind that the longer it simmers, the more potent the glaze, so make it as light or rich as you like. Cool before using.

[/framed_box]

by Liren on July 10, 2011

22 Comments

« Previous Post

Maureen — July 10, 2011 @ 4:53 am (#
1
)

This salad is to die for! I look at those beautiful photos and I’m in love! Fantastic
Joan Nova — July 10, 2011 @ 6:07 am (#
2
)

Lovely…and so beautifully illustrated.
Karriann Graf — July 10, 2011 @ 6:36 am (#
3
)

What a gorgeous glaze and salad! Looks marvelous and perfect for summer!
Barbara | Creative Culinary — July 10, 2011 @ 7:18 am (#
4
)

One of my favorite quick dressings. I love balsamic so much I ‘almost’ think I could drink it straight but I do a quick mix with olive oil and honey for summer salads with berries and goat cheese. Now of course…I want watermelon and figs! Figs are not easy to come by in Denver so you’re ahead of us here and I’m ever so envious!
Pachecopatty — July 10, 2011 @ 11:34 am (#
5
)

May I just say, yummy, yummy, yummy! I love this salad and the dressing. I’ll be on the hunt for fresh figs soon;-)
Kulsum at JourneyKitchen — July 10, 2011 @ 12:17 pm (#
6
)

Okay I agree I need this first and then may be Hawaii? I love the combination of figs and watermelon. Got to try!
Joy — July 10, 2011 @ 1:32 pm (#
7
)

The salad looks wonderful.
Lindsey — July 10, 2011 @ 2:06 pm (#
8
)

So fresh and beautiful!
Susan — July 10, 2011 @ 2:32 pm (#
9
)

Amazing! Photos are gorgeous as always! I want this salad right now!
torviewtoronto — July 10, 2011 @ 4:23 pm (#
10
)

delicious salad combination looks wonderful
merry jennifer — July 10, 2011 @ 4:50 pm (#
11
)

Oh, how heavenly. I’ve been gifted some figs recently – twice now – and have used the majority to make jam. I’m seriously thinking of investing in a fig tree, though. Such special fruit these are.
Brian @ A Thought For Food — July 10, 2011 @ 4:54 pm (#
12
)

Yeah yeah… rub it in. Makes me wish I lived in California so I could eat figs and avocado all the time. This salad looks wonderful. Simple but no less delicious
Ann — July 10, 2011 @ 8:05 pm (#
13
)

Agave nectar in balsamic? GENIUS! I love figs, I love watermelon and I love balsamic! This is great! I’m happily buzzing this one!
Parsley Sage — July 11, 2011 @ 5:11 am (#
14
)

Outstanding! The glaze it out of control good :) Buzzed!
The Cilantropist — July 11, 2011 @ 7:48 am (#
15
)

I want that glaze. I COVET it. It looks soooo rich and sweet… Just right with juicy watermelon and simple figs.
sippitysup — July 11, 2011 @ 8:53 am (#
16
)

Welcome home. Your summer shopping netted something delicious. GREG
norma — July 11, 2011 @ 12:06 pm (#
17
)

Refreshing salad and that glaze is so beautifuly rich looking.
Vanille — July 11, 2011 @ 10:15 pm (#
18
)

Oh glorious fig ! And I like so much the pairing of goat cheese and fig. Delicious salad !
And I know what you mean about the post-vacation kind of blues…
Nabeela — July 12, 2011 @ 1:51 am (#
19
)

the recipe is simple but im sure the taste is much more over simple right ?:)
Kelly — July 13, 2011 @ 11:24 am (#
20
)

What a delicious salad! Love this recipe! :)
Skylar — July 13, 2011 @ 4:47 pm (#
21
)

Delicious combination there, I like the balsamic glaze, that’s a good idea
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts — July 14, 2011 @ 4:08 pm (#
22
)

What a pretty salad! Fruit salads in the summer are just so refreshing!