This charming little amuse is comprised of two ingredients, and when there are only two, they had better be the best there are! My good friend Jose Andres inspired me to make this amuse one summer when he visited from his Washington, D.C., restaurant, Jaleo, where he is the chef-partner. Look for ripe, seedless watermelons in the height of summer, when they are bursting with luscious sweetness. Tap their shell; they should sound hollow and feel firm, never soft or mushy. Next, buy the oldest balsamic vinegar you can afford. You'll maybe have to purchase it at a gourmet shop, but once you discover the glories of 25-, 50- or even 100-year old balsamic vinegar, you will be hooked. This is not vinegar to sprinkle with abandon over lettuce or tomatoes, but instead a syrup elixir to use sparingly. Just a drop or two provides flavor that is rich, mellow, sweet and full — unlike any vinegar you have tasted before. When paired with watermelon, as I have here, it's heavenly.
Ingredients
- About 1/2 pound seedless red or yellow watermelon flesh
- 1/2 lime
- Aged balsamic vinegar, for garnishing
Directions
Cut the watermelon flesh into 6 (1 1/2-inch) cubes.
Use the small end of a melon-baller to remove a scoop of flesh from 1 side of the watermelon cubes, creating a small cavity for the juice.
To serve, place a watermelon cube, cavity-side up, on each of 6 small plates and squeeze a little lime juice over them. Fill each cavity with balsamic vinegar.
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By jnnrangel_1776152
Sacramento, CA
on January 10, 2005
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Very interesting taste but enjoyable. A must try! Some of your guest may like it some may not. My husband didn't care too much for it but I did!
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