Melon Salad with Bourbon-Maple Dressing Recipe | Jose Garces
Level: Easy
Yield: 6 servings
Total: 35 min
Prep: 8 min
Cook: 27 min
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving
Serving Size: 1 of 6 servings
Calories: 324
Total Fat: 15 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Carbohydrates: 23 g
Dietary Fiber: 2 g
Sugar: 20 g
Protein: 2 g
Cholesterol: 3 mg
Sodium: 445 mg
For the pecans:
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1 slice thick-cut double-smoked bacon, diced
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3/4 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
For the salad:
- 1 cup Kentucky bourbon
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
- Kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons grapeseed or vegetable oil
- 1 cantaloupe, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
- Sea salt
- 2 tablespoons fresh micro cilantro or chopped cilantro
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- Make the pecans: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Scatter the pecans on a baking sheet and bake until fragrant and toasted, 10 to 12 minutes; let them cool aside.
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, fry the bacon, stirring now and then, until it's crispy and browned, around 6 minutes. Pour in the vinegar and maple syrup, then simmer until the mixture thickens up, 2 to 3 minutes. Take off the heat, mix in the pecans and Old Bay. Spread it out on the baking sheet to cool, then chop coarsely.
- Make the dressing: In a medium saucepan on medium-low heat, gently simmer the bourbon until it's reduced to roughly 1/3 cup, taking 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the maple syrup and vinegar; simmer softly until halved in volume, another 2 to 3 minutes. Off the heat, add the shallot and allow it to cool. Whisk in the thyme plus 1/4 teaspoon salt. Gradually add the grapeseed oil while whisking steadily to blend everything smoothly.
- Layer the sliced melon on a serving platter and sprinkle with sea salt. Drizzle the bourbon-maple dressing over the top, scatter the prepared pecans, and finish with the cilantro.
Photograph by Jason Varney
Recipe courtesy Jose Garces for Recipe Iseasy Magazine
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