Thai Melon Salad Food

MELON SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Turn off heat and add shrimp and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Drain. When cool enough to handle, slice each shrimp in half lengthwise.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, ginger, lemongrass, lime zest and juice, and hot sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Halve the honeydew and watermelon, cut away from rind, and remove the seeds. Slice the melons into 1/8-inch-thick pieces. Remove the watermelon seeds (it's okay if the slices don't stay intact). Using a cake ring or a glass whose mouth is slightly smaller than a 14 to 16-ounce martini glass or champagne coupe, cut out 16 slices from the watermelon, and 16 slices from the honeydew. Save the best-looking 4 watermelon slices.
• Set out 4 (8 to 12-ounce) martini glasses or Champagne coupes.
• Layer 2 slices of watermelon and honeydew in each glass, lightly sprinkling each melon layer with the lemongrass dressing, chopped basil, chopped cilantro, salt, and pepper. (You may need to trim the melon slices so they fit neatly into the glasses, which should be half-full at this point.) Divide the shrimp among the glasses, arranging them in concentric circles. Season the shrimp with the dressing, basil, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Add another layer of melon in the reverse order: honeydew, then watermelon, seasoning as before. Top each salad with a reserved watermelon slice, and sprinkle lightly with the dressing, basil, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Garnish with 1 basil and 1 cilantro leaf. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving (the melon and shrimp taste best when well chilled).

SPICY THAI-INSPIRED NOODLE WATERMELON SALAD

Steps:

• Place 2 cups watermelon in a blender; cover and puree until smooth. Press through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl; discard pulp. Pour 1 cup juice into a small saucepan (save any remaining juice for another use). Add chili sauce, fish sauce, lime juice and ginger to saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is slightly thickened, 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat. Refrigerate until cooled., Meanwhile, prepare noodles according to package directions; rinse with cold water and drain well. Place noodles in a large bowl. Add carrots, red onion, cilantro, mint and remaining 2-1/2 cups watermelon. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. Serve with peanuts and lime wedges.

THAI MELON SALAD

Steps:

• Dressing: Mix garlic, palm or brown sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, chiles, and lime leaves in a bowl. Roughly chop shrimp and peanuts by hand or in a food processor and add to garlic mixture. (The dressing can be made in advance and stored up to 3 days in the refrigerator.)
• To serve, arrange each variety of melon cubes in alternating rows on a platter or in individual bowls. Spoon dressing over melon in a strip and garnish with cilantro. Serve chilled.