I saw a version of this recipe in a British magazine and was so taken with how beautiful it looked that I had to try it. We don’t have the same kinds of melons available here, so it’s a bit different from the original – but it’s also more interesting than the standard watermelon/feta/cucumber combination. And the pistachios give it such a nice pop of crunchy flavor!

This salad was a huge hit (I could tell because the moment it was done, everyone in the house gathered around with forks and started eating it directly out of the serving bowl in a way that could only be described as compulsive). It can be served cold or at room temperature, so it’s a perfect summer buffet salad – and it’s gluten free! (If you don’t add the feta, it can also be dairy free.)

In addition to the watermelon, I used a Galia melon and a Santa Claus melon (don’t ask me – I had never heard of it before either, but they had them in quantity at Whole Foods!). They are both light green, and not too sweet, so they’re a good foil for the watermelon. When combined with the cucumber, feta, mint, pistachios, and vinegar/ginger dressing, you get a fairly substantial and deeply cooling salad.