Monday, July 6, 2009

Tabbouleh, Tzatziki, and Watermelon Salad

We had a great fourth of July holiday weekend. We spent a lot of time outside, we had a lot of fun, but mostly, we ate a lot of food. I had several things in mind that I wanted to try, and I managed to put them together into one big feast of a meal on Sunday night. My original inspiration for the meal came from the cucumbers that were included in our CSA pick up. I love chopped cucumbers simply tossed into a green salad, but these were destined for something more interesting. I’m not sure of the varieties of cucumbers we received, but one was long, skinny, and striped. As soon as I saw it, I started thinking about tzatziki and how I had never made it myself. I flipped to the recipe in the Barefoot Contessa Parties! book, and right there on the preceding page is the tabbouleh recipe. I had also just seen some fantastic-looking watermelon salads on both Kopiaste and Kalofagas, and I decided to put these ideas together along with some pita, feta, hummus, good olives, and grilled kabobs. I wanted to make homemade pita but ran out of time. One of these days, I’ll try making it myself. As long as I’m confessing, I bought the hummus already made as well. There were just too many other fun things to do this weekend, but all the parts came together for a meal that left me wishing I could keep eating for several hours in a row.

Early in the day, I marinated chicken in lemon juice and zest, olive oil, garlic, and oregano. I also started the tzatziki by grating the cucumber and leaving it in a sieve over a bowl in the refrigerator for a few hours. Ina’s recipe suggests that the yogurt also be strained, but I used thick, Greek yogurt and skipped that step. To complete the tzatziki, the strained cucumber was combined with yogurt, sour cream, minced garlic, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, fresh dill, salt, and pepper. The tabbouleh is also a good dish to prepare in advance so the flavors can form a mutually respectful union, and I have actually made the recipe from this book before. First, bulgur wheat was covered with boiling water, and lemon juice, olive oil, and salt were added. That was left for an hour while green onions, fresh mint, parsley, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes were chopped. After the bulgur had absorbed the water, the other ingredients were incorporated, and it was placed in the refrigerator until ready to be served.

We had green bell peppers, onions, and yellow squash also from our CSA, so those were included on the kabobs with the chicken. While the kabobs were on the grill, I sauteed sliced haloumi in olive oil for the watermelon salad. I used basil because my mint has succumbed to the heat, and I forgot to save some of the store-bought mint I used in the tabbouleh for this salad. I also completely forgot about the red onion that should have been added to the salad, but it worked out ok. Actually, this simple salad of watermelon chunks, browned haloumi, basil, and olive oil was one of the single most delicious things I’ve eaten lately. I can’t stop talking about it, and I highly suggest everyone give it a try.

The watermelon salad was definitely the star of the evening, every bite inspired nodding and smiling, but the table was loaded with delicious things. The kabobs were made even better with the tzatziki, the tabbouleh was cool, fresh, and crunchy, and the sharp, sheep feta and mix of olives were tasty accessories on the platter. I’m now wondering why I had never made tzatziki before, but I’ll certainly be making it again. The cucumber, dill-flavored, creamy goodness pairs so well with lemon-marinated chicken. At the end of the meal, we were beyond stuffed, and we were saddened that we’d reached a point at which not one more bite could be taken. Luckily though, with leftovers, we can enjoy it all again.



31 comments:

  1. Lisa I made Mediterranean for the weekend party! kabobs, saffron rice & orzo, & walnut hummus with pita & cucumbers:-) Tabbouleh is one of my favorites & I love mediterannean food. everything looks just awesome.

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  2. You don't have to sell me on tabbouleh. It's already one of my favorite things to eat. The watermelon with haloumi sounds really divine. Never had that combo before, but I bet it can't be beat.

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  3. What a delicious feast you prepared! Everything sounds so delicious. Yay - for leftovers!

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  4. Everything looks wonderful fresh and delicious. I made a watermelon salad this weekend and it was the star as well, It seems like it is still new to a lot of people that were not used to using it in this way.

    Your making me hungry with this post, must go cook dinner.

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  5. It all looks wonderfully delicious and healthy at the same time.

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  6. Looks like fabulously healthy and colourful meal! :D I adore tabouli and kebabs :)

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  7. I wish I loved next door to you. That way I can be one of those neighbors that randomly invites themselves over for dinner.

    Yum yum!!

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  8. What a feast! You've made everything I like and I am glad you enjoyed everything.

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  9. Ttatziki is the sauce for EVERYTHING! This is the never-empty dressing in my kitchen!
    I like your watermelon salad too! What is haloumi?
    Angie's Recipes

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  10. Love everything here, especially tabbouleh! Perfect for summer.

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  11. Lisa, what a sumptuous feast, I'd love to have sat down to nibble, sample and chat all through the different dishes.

    Thanks for the mention and link, much appreciated!

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  12. mmm...everything looks so refreshing. a perfect summer in texas meal. so funny, too. i made tzatziki for the first time recently too! mine was a little too heavy on the garlic. i'll have to try yours. we must be on a similar food wavelength!

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  13. Amazing menu. Everything looks so fresh, colorful, delicious, and healthy. The watermelon salad wows me, especially. I know I will be thinking about it all day today.

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  14. Wonderful summer menu. Have not thought it's possible to use watermelon in salads.

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  15. What a fantastic feast! Everything looks delicious and so refreshing, especially the watermelon salad with haloumi. Tabbouleh and tzatziki are two that I have yet to make myself; I admit that sometimes, it's just too easy to buy good versions elsewhere! The final photo of the platter of kabobs and tabbouleh is just incredible!

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  16. What a great spread.

    That striped cucumber is the coolest one I've ever seen - I don't think I've ever previously come in contact with one.

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  17. Ohhh. Middle Eastern food. Probably my favorite and absolutely impossible to find in Seattle. We went to a great place in DC and I have been craving those flavors ever since. Haloumi is one of the greatest inventions ever in my opinion. I love that you paired it with watermelon.

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  18. I think you hit your mark. You certainly got everything "together into one big feast of a meal" as you had imagined! So it's an SU for you...GREG

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  19. again, your pict make me hungry. Really perfect food during summer, Lisa. By the way,make sure you will visit IKEA Store when you go to Chicago and buy many stuff as you can LOL.

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  20. Fresh, vibrant -- gorgeous! I've tried making homemade pita, and not with particularly stellar results, so I'll look forward to hearing about it when you do.

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  21. I would eat everything you make. This is my kind of meal. Nice pictures.

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  22. What an incredible meal, everything looks SO good!

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  23. These are all Turkish style, just the names are different. We call tzatziki as 'cacik' in Turkish. Tabbouleh is called Kisir in Turkish. And most of you know kebap. These are all my favorite! Sounds like a heavenly feast! And pictures here are fantastic as always.

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  24. this is pretty much exactly what i had to eat on the 3rd, but it was at a restaurant. greek and mediterranean foods are my favorite cuisine these days, and your spread is fantastic!

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  25. this is simple and yet so delicious, so refreshing and just amazed me!

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  26. Just the kind of food I have been craving lately! Everything looks so delicious, yummy!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  27. A beautiful menu! the watermelon salad looks incredible.

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  28. Looks so Luscious :)

    Thanks for sharing your recipe:0


    Have a wonderful Day:)

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  29. Now you make me want greek food and there are none around me...ahhh

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