Strange Bedfellows

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Boy, oh boy – do I have a salad recipe for you!

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Now, the ingredients in this dish might sound a little strange, but the combo is really, really refreshing and delicious.  A perfectly wonderful and fulfilling salad, if I do say so myself.

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In the  mix:

 

  • 1 cup chopped watermelon
  • 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil
  • 4 inches of cucumber, chopped
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup (measured dry) cooked wheatberries (chilled)
  • 1/5 block extra firm tofu, grilled
  • Drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette

 

Wheatberries are a very fun grain.  You can fun them in the bulk bin section.  They are big and chewy.  All you need to do is boil the wheatberries for about 15 minutes and drain.

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Wheatberries taste great in oatmeal and mixed with yogurt, too, so I usually make a big batch at once and store in the fridge for a few days.

 

Back to the salad:

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All you have to do is chop the cucumber and watermelon and toss with the sunflower seeds, wheatberries, basil, and balsamic vinaigrette.   I grilled the extra firm tofu on a George Foreman (hint: you don’t have to press tofu if you’re going to George Foreman it!) and layer the tofu on top.

 

Watermelon tastes DIVINE with fresh basil – try making kebobs with mozzarella balls, watermelon, and basil – and the whole salad just really melds together, despite the seemingly strange combo of flavors.

 

What strange flavor combinations have you enjoyed lately?  Any great recipes to share?

{ 63 comments }

 

  • Jessica March 20, 2011, 2:47 pm

    My mouth is watering now! My publix didn’t have watermelon last week, but when they do I am making those kebobs…. nothing has sounded that good to me in a long time!

  • Freya March 20, 2011, 2:47 pm

    yep, that salad is right up my street 🙂
    I’m on a ginger kick atm, which is weird cos I normally hate ginger…but whatever 😉

    • Caitlin March 21, 2011, 9:26 am

      Ginger + Chocolate = Awesomeness.

  • Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) March 20, 2011, 2:48 pm

    That salad looks so YUMMY!! I totally HAVE to find some wheatberries ASAP!!

    I am LOVING brussel sprouts with coconut butter!! Best. Combo. EVER!! After PB+J of course! 😉

  • rebecca lustig March 20, 2011, 2:54 pm

    this looks SOOOO refreshing! perfectly in time for spring 🙂

  • Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope March 20, 2011, 2:55 pm

    That is seriously a fantastic salad recipe!!! Watermelon and basil work SO well together, as well as watermelon and mint if you’ve ever tried that before.

    I love the flavors of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg combined. Great in lattes, over cereal or oatmeal, or on sweet potatoes!

  • Chetney March 20, 2011, 3:01 pm

    yum!! Bookmarked!

  • carolyn~ March 20, 2011, 3:02 pm

    Try watermelon, mint, feta cheese or goat cheese and macademia nuts with little drizzle of olive oil and lime juice…incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Caitlin March 21, 2011, 9:27 am

      That sounds amazing!

  • Jen March 20, 2011, 3:11 pm

    That all sounds really good to me except the tofu with the watermelon. I love both of them individually, but I don’t know if I could handle them together. I think it would be a texture thing over a flavor thing, but if you say it worked then I believe you!

  • Kara March 20, 2011, 3:15 pm

    I can’t wait to get watermelon this year! They haven’t had it in the stores up here yet 🙁

  • Emma (Namaste Everyday) March 20, 2011, 3:15 pm

    This is so gross but I tried peanutbutter and cheese the other day and it was sort of awesome. But I do love strawberries and balsamic!

  • Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews March 20, 2011, 3:17 pm

    Wow what an unusual salad. Sounds wonderful!

  • MorgzSyd March 20, 2011, 3:41 pm

    that salad looks delish! I like a lot of weird combos too, like I put pretzel m&ms and cookie dough on wildberry froyo last night, honey mustard on fries, edamame dipped in hoisin sauce, lawlzzzz

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  • Lee March 20, 2011, 3:57 pm

    Have you ever tried watermelon and feta? It goes really well together, especially with some mint.

  • Faith @ lovelyascharged March 20, 2011, 4:00 pm

    I rarely ever put fruit in my salads, but I do love some straaaange flavor combos…like cream cheese in oatmeal (or even in rice+beans!)

    • Caitlin March 21, 2011, 9:28 am

      Cream cheese works with everything.

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) March 20, 2011, 4:08 pm

    George is amazing, isn’t he! I do a lot of strange things with food like pizza waffles, but I don’t know that I do strange food combinations. I like taking one idea and making it into something completely different, but I am pretty plain jane when it comes to flavors. The salad sounds amazing and refreshing!

  • mary (what's cookin' with mary) March 20, 2011, 4:09 pm

    This sounds SUPER yummy! And so spring like. I put pineapple in a quinoa salad that Ange (Oh she Glows) featured on her vegan link love post a while back… It has a jalapeno balsamic plus other veggies. I love the natural sweetness that the fresh fruit can bring to a salad w.o adding honey/ sugar/ agave. ..that combined with a spicy balsamic… oh yeah!

    http://whatscookinwithmary.blogspot.com/2010/06/quinoa-salad-with-jalapeno-balsamic.html

    …but… my obsession right now (although not strange) is Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shakes (with and w.o spinach) SOOO yummy 😀

    http://whatscookinwithmary.blogspot.com/2011/03/peanut-butter-cup-protein-shake.html

  • Sarah @ The Pajama Chef March 20, 2011, 4:11 pm

    mmm i love wheatberries but have never bought them myself. this looks great!

  • Julie @ Shining From Within March 20, 2011, 4:19 pm

    YUM! I’ve heard of people making ka-bobs like that and they sound diviiiine! Anything with basil in it, I’m in. So refreshing for Spring time (and a perfect salad for the first day of Spring!)

  • J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) March 20, 2011, 4:38 pm

    That actually sounds fantastic!

  • Anne P March 20, 2011, 4:45 pm

    YUM I love watermelon and basil together. So summery! I like making fruit salad with basil, too. It’s also good with cantaloupe!

  • Evan Thomas March 20, 2011, 4:46 pm

    Another great watermelon pairing is grilled watermelon with goat cheese.

    • Caitlin March 20, 2011, 6:21 pm

      How would you do this, Evan? Just lay the watermelon on an open-face George Foreman? And top with cold goat cheese?

      • Evan Thomas March 20, 2011, 6:25 pm

        You might want to brush the watermelon with a little olive oil before grilling. When I had it(at a restaurant) they used an herb I can’t remember. It might have been basil.

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife March 20, 2011, 4:46 pm

    I really do love watermelon and basil together, so I believe you on this one!! Plus, tofu is awesome 🙂 Here is a fun combo : nutella + ice cream. haha!! 🙂

  • Victoria (District Chocoholic) March 20, 2011, 4:58 pm
  • Allison @ Happy Tales March 20, 2011, 5:20 pm

    Hm, i’ll have to try that watermelon basil combo… sounds yummy! A weird combo of Ryan’s I’ve never understood is icecream & anything crunchy… like pretzels! He just sprinkles some on top and loves the conflicting textures and taste! He also likes to put chips on sandwiches sometimes… for the crunch. I’ve never heard of anyone else doing that!

    • Caitlin March 21, 2011, 9:28 am

      I do chips on sandwiches, too!

    • Amber K March 21, 2011, 12:04 pm

      I totally used to do chips on sandwiches as a kid! I forgot about that.

    • RebekahK March 21, 2011, 3:28 pm

      I used to put lucky charms or rice krispies on my ice cream as a kid. Love that crunch!!!

  • Baking 'n' Books March 20, 2011, 5:20 pm

    I always grill my meat…and tofu 🙂 Looks delicious – must say tofu looks the best part to me – big and chunky 🙂

    I see your still on your watermelon kick!

    You don’t want to know my food combinations…

  • Parita @ myinnershakti March 20, 2011, 5:33 pm

    That sounds delicious! This isn’t strange but I really enjoy a spinach salad with beets, walnuts, goat cheese, and balsamic dressing. 🙂

  • Maggie March 20, 2011, 5:35 pm

    I had NO idea you could grill tofu! A bit new to the meat-alternatives scene. That salad looks amazing! I think I would pair it with Santa Cruz organic ginger ale. Based on the ingredients, it looks good for you, and you can really taste the gingery zing!

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) March 20, 2011, 5:38 pm

    oooh what an interesting combo indeed!

  • Carol March 20, 2011, 5:39 pm

    Add feta to the salad next time for that extra special WOW factor. The salt with the sweet! Phenomenal. And fresh mint really makes the watermelon pop too.

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat March 20, 2011, 5:48 pm

    YUM this sounds delicious! I’ve had a few really great salads recently as well. One was a pineapple quinoa dish that I ate literally every single day for a week (http://bit.ly/heVPi1) and the other is a chicken and wheatberry salad that I keep making because it’s so good! (http://bit.ly/f2FaK5) I’m pretty sure you could sub the chicken for tofu or chickpeas and it would be just as good. 🙂

  • Natalia - a side of simple March 20, 2011, 6:27 pm

    I’ve been on a brussel sprouts + marinara sauce kick lately. I don’t know if that’s strange (my mom says pretty much all of my combinations are strange) but maybe I can get some support in blogworld for it!

    • Caitlin March 21, 2011, 9:34 am

      Oh that sounds good!! Tell your momma she’s just wrong.

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin March 20, 2011, 6:47 pm

    I actually saw a lot of salad recipes using watermelon last summer, but never tried them out. I love fruit in my salads though, so I definitely want to try this! 😀

    I don’t know if this is considered that strange, but I like mango + feta in my salads.

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss March 20, 2011, 7:23 pm

    I love watermelon in salads!!! Never had it with basil before though, sounds delish!

  • Heidi - apples under my bed March 20, 2011, 7:33 pm

    I need into wheatberries – I’ve never had them! Flavour combinations, hmmm. Nothing new on my front. Wow, boring! haha.
    Heidi xo

  • Eliza March 20, 2011, 7:40 pm

    suprisingly, MANGO tastes amazing with mint, coriander etc

  • Caitlin March 20, 2011, 8:20 pm

    I love watermelon in salad! I always make watermelon, feta, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil to bring to parties.

  • Janelle March 20, 2011, 8:35 pm

    I have been chowing down on egg + peanut butter sandwiches (ideally on cinnamon raisin toast) lately. The family thinks it is odd, but it is wonderful! And holds me over for hours…

    • Caitlin March 21, 2011, 9:36 am

      Hahah that does sound like a filling, but odd, combo.

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey March 20, 2011, 8:52 pm

    That is an interesting salad! I’m definitely not opposed to it though!

  • Meredith March 20, 2011, 9:03 pm

    this does sound really refreshing! perfect now that the weather is warming up again.

  • monicanelsonfitness March 20, 2011, 9:14 pm

    I love watermelon, feta, and basil salads. Was turned on to it last summer. 🙂
    Yummy!

  • olivewineandfood March 20, 2011, 10:07 pm

    i’ve never thought of using a george foreman with tofu!

  • Michelle (The Runner's Plate) March 20, 2011, 10:36 pm

    Odd food combination: My husband ground fennel and added it to his applesauce. . . sounds odd, but it was super good!

    I’m going to have to try grilling my tofu next time.

  • khushboo March 21, 2011, 12:35 am

    That salad looks so up my alley! Crank it up a notch+add some feta! I love random combos of food- sweet+salty all the way, nails every craving 🙂

  • khushboo March 21, 2011, 12:38 am

    That salad looks so up my alley! Crank it up a notch+add some feta! Or try a big green salad w carrot, strawberries, cheddar+almonds w olive oil- yum! I love random combos of food- sweet+salty all the way, nails every craving 🙂

  • Ellie@fitforthesoul March 21, 2011, 1:03 am

    yummm! i love wheatberries. It’s so fun to test with grains and flours 😀 lately, I’ve been liking mascarpone cheese in many things! Toast and pancakes being some of them

  • Miranda @ Conquering College...One Bite At a Time March 21, 2011, 3:39 am

    Just wanted to let you know that I added your blog to my top-favorites BLOGROLL on my blog Conquering College…One Bit at a Time. Just letting you know for you information, but if you’d like to check out the blurb I wrote about your blog and my blog while you’re at it, go ahead 🙂 Thanks for having an awesome blog!

    • Caitlin March 21, 2011, 9:36 am

      Thank you so much Miranda 🙂

  • Cindy Robinson March 21, 2011, 9:44 am

    My mouth is watering, I will have to give those combos a try! Something very strange I had last week Strawberries & Avocado + balsamic vinegar. Sooo good. Oh crap, I just remembered…you’re severly allergic to avocados (right?)! Well, should you ever become un-allergic (that’s a word, I’m sure ;)) you should try that!

    • Caitlin March 21, 2011, 9:48 am

      Hahha yup, but I bet that combo IS delish.

  • Amber K March 21, 2011, 12:06 pm

    I’m not big on strange combos. In fact, I spend most of my eating time with every food on a separate portion of the plate. I am basically 3-years-old when it comes to food. I need to buy some of those plates with the dividers… 😉

  • Sam @ the neurotic yogini March 21, 2011, 12:56 pm

    Cucumber and watermelon are SO good delicious together! Add some feta cheese (for non-vegans) and it’s the perfect springtime/summer salad combination!! 🙂

  • RebekahK March 21, 2011, 3:31 pm

    My mom just turned me on to peanut butter on cooked sweet potato. I am all about opposing textures so I added some Kashi crunch cereal and it was awesome!

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