Happiness in a Bowl

This past weekend in Southern California has been blessed with 80 degree weather, making me crave cool, refreshing meals. I usually make this salad in summer, but since spring & summer pretty much blend together in my neck of the woods—it seemed like the perfect day for it. Imagine the intense cool sweetness of watermelon tossed in a ginger, garlic & lime dressing with some lavender sea salt as a final touch. This dressing dances on the tongue and is such a surprising mouthful of tropical cool.

Ginger-Lime Watermelon Salad

1 mini seedless watermelon- cut up

Dressing:

2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger

1 tablespoon zest of lime

3 tablespoons olive oil

1.5 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 smashed clove of garlic

small bunch of chives, finely chopped

Ground pepper to taste

Lavender sea salt to taste

(Got mine at Monsieur Marcel shop at Farmers" Market/Grove, you can also find it online at Posh Gourmet)

Make the dressing ahead and let sit for an hour or so with garlic soaking in mixture. Toss garlic after an hour (if you leave it in, it becomes overpowering) and toss the chopped watermelon in dressing. Chill, will keep for a few days covered in refrigerator. Option: Add chopped cucumber and/or cilantro.