Watermelon & Tomato Salad with Pistachios & Goat Cheese

From my new LA restaurant Agua Viva to your kitchen!

Watermelon might be the perfect summer fruit. No one will argue this. Bright red, or even yellow and orange, sweet and crunchy; an amazing natural energizer on hot and humid days.  I love all the varieties that show up at the farmers’ markets in summer…Crimson Sweet, Yellow Doll, Millionaire and Estrella. 

Simple but sophisticated, watermelon can become so many things. I have been sharing recipes and ideas for decades now…from watermelon gazpacho and granita to watermelon air with sea urchin…but one of my favorite ways to enjoy this summer fruit is alongside tomatoes in a savory-sweet salad. Ensalada de Sandía y Tomate, a salad with watermelons and tomatoes, has been a favorite special at our Jaleo restaurants. Now, my team and I have brought this beautiful taste of summer to our new restaurant Agua Viva at Conrad Los Angeles. Here, we dress it up L.A.-style with edible flowers and brightly-colored heirloom cherry tomatoes. In the restaurants, we usually slice the watermelon into 1- to 2-inch steaks and finely chop the tomatoes, but at home, let’s make it easy. We can cut the watermelon into cubes and quarter the tomatoes. As I say…easy. Okay people, I know…peeling the tomatoes may not sound easy, but I tell you the salad is so much better when you can taste the soft flesh of tomatoes without the skins. Try it! Let me know what you think.

Watermelon Tomato Salad with Pistachios and Goat Cheese

Serves 4