Watermelon Salad With Grilled Corn, Olives, and Goat Cheese

Juicy, sugary, and dribbly, watermelon is the ultimate fruit to feed a crowd with during summer parties. As lovable as they are when simply sliced up at a picnic or barbecue, this versatile fruit can be easily transformed into vibrant salads, frozen desserts, and even thirst quenching cocktails. Playing around with contrasting ingredients to create unlikely flavours profiles riles me up. I love it when my guests look hesitantly at their plates at first, then burst out saying “wow, I never thought that would work” after a bite. Watermelon is one of those underrated ingredients. Since fresh corn is in season, I took the opportunity to grill some up beside our meats. The slightly charred kernels pop with smoky sweetness. For the savoury component, I introduced a milky goat cheese and oily, briny olives that meld into an effortless dressing. The citrusy lime and fresh mint tie the salad together with a bright finish. It’s just that simple. This light, yet robust salad goes superbly with any meat or fish from the grill. Some may raise their eyebrows at the black olive but they’ll be hooked before you know it.