Fresh Basil Salad with Prosciutto Wrapped Melon and Toasted Seed Rolled Goat Cheese.
I did something a little crazy…and totally out of character for me.
I bought a last-minute ticket and flew to Cleveland, OH to surprise my brother on his 30th Birthday.
I flew in super late on Thursday and flew home yesterday afternoon. It was a fast and jam-packed trip that was both tiring and really fun, but all of the travel and stress were 100 percent worth it to see the look on my brother’s face when I popped out at his surprise party.
My brother knew my parents and Asher were flying in for the week to visit with family, but he was completely clueless about his surprise party, and he never would have guessed that I would ever make an appearance.
He knows how busy I have been lately, and honestly, I really don’t leave the house very often. I’m kind of a homebody and I have a semi-hard time taking time off from actual work. But I don’t know, something about this trip and seeing him and surprising him on his birthday was feeling right.
Plus, I knew there was most likely some shopping that would take place with my brother’s girlfriend…which we did, we literally shopped till we dropped.
It was the best…she’s kind of the best 🙂
Anyway, I’m pretty sure I was a big part of Creighton’s birthday, which I never ever thought I could do, but I think I did.
My brother was so beyond excited to see me, like he almost cried, which made me almost cry, and I kind of think my mom did cry. Everyone told me they got tears in their eyes just watching.
I mean, jeez, make a girl feel good or what.
It was also great to see family and friends, most of which I have not seen in forever. So all in all, it was a pretty great trip.
I will not lie though, it was a little sad to leave everyone. Missin’ my Cleveland family just a little bit at the moment.
But I did get to take care of my little goats and chickens once I got home… so kind of good to be home too.
And I want to tell you all about this fresh basil salad with prosciutto wrapped melon and toasted seed rolled goat cheese. Isn’t it pretty?? I figured it would be the prefect thing to detox us all after a most likely busy weekend. Which by the way, how was everyone’s weekend? I hope your weather was nice and you all saw some great fireworks!! It was not crazy hot in Ohio, but there was no rain and we had a sunny 4th, so I would say mine was pretty great!
It totally could have used this healthy salad though, I had people handing me margaritas, beers and all kinds of drinks that I just sort of let chill in my hand. All good stuff, but honestly, drinking still really isn’t for me, so I held my own, semi-looked the part and just kind sipped…but shhh don’t tell anyone!
Ok, but this salad, it’s perfect! Full of color, simple flavors and just plain healthiness!!
The prosciutto wrapped melon is my favorite, but the toasted seed rolled goat cheese is HIGH on my list too. Plus, a basil salad?? I mean, yes please!!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Fresh Basil Salad with Prosciutto Wrapped Melon and Toasted Seed Rolled Goat Cheese.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: basil, melon, prosciutto
This salad, it's perfect! Full of color, simple flavors and just plain healthiness!!
Ingredients
Toasted Seed Rolled Goat Cheese
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
- 1/4 raw buckwheat groats soaked over night and laid to dry if desired*
- 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup hemp seeds
- 1/4 cup raw pistachios roughly chopped
- salt to taste
- 8 ounces fresh goat cheese
Sweet Corn Dressing
- 1/3 cup +1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ear corn kernels removed
- 1 tablespoon shallot chopped
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- salt + pepper to taste
Salad
- 3 cups fresh basil
- 3 cups red leaf lettuce
- 2 cups fresh raspberries
- 1 small cantaloupe sliced into half circles
- 4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
Instructions
Toasted Seed Rolled Goat Cheese
-
Place the coconut oil, maple syrup, buckwheat groats, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, pistachios and a pinch of salt in a large skillet, set over medium heat. Toast the seeds, stirring often for about 5 minutes or until light golden and fragrant. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.
-
Meanwhile, roll the goat cheese between your hands to create tiny little teaspoon size balls. They may want to crumble, but if you just squeeze the goat cheese with you hands and then roll it into a ball it works great.
-
Once the seeds are cool, roll the goat cheese balls in the seeds. Place on a plate and store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Dressing
-
Heat a small skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once hot, add the shallot and cook until lightly caramelized, season with a pinch of salt. Next, add the corn and cook 1-2 minutes then remove from the heat.
-
Add the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, honey + salt and pepper to taste. Store in a glass jar in the fridge until ready to serve.
Salad
-
In a large salad bowl, combine the basil, lettuce and raspberries. Wrap the prosciutto around the the cantaloupe slices and sprinkle with salt. Place on the salad. Add the goat cheese balls. Serve with the sweet corn dressing. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*if you prefer, you can soak your buckwheat groats overnight to get more nutrients out of them and make digesting the buckwheat easier, but I honestly never do this because I just forget.
After a long summer weekend of red, white and blues… bring on the greens!
What an awesome thing to do! I wish I was all adventurous, and could be totally spontaneous like that. I am the most boring person EVER.
But this salad, it is NOT boring. I am loving all the colors, flavors and, well, GOAT CHEESE. Pinned!
That was so sweet of you to make that effort for your brother, I’m sure he really appreciated it and enjoyed you being there. This salad is like the best salad I’ve ever seen, times 10, on steroids! Gorgeous!
Sounds like you had a fantastic weekend that was much deserved. Recharging by seeing family is always the best. And not to mention this salad, like WHOA!
I love this idea for splitting up the goat cheese, both visually and for the taste buds, without breading + deep-frying it (or just crumbling it in). I’ll be trying that method for sure! Maybe with other seed combinations, too… Thank you!
I couldn’t stop a huge smile from popping to my face as I read prosciutto wrapped melon in the title. It’s something I associate with my country so very much, I find it so portuguese, and so 80’s, and it reminds me of my father in law who always serves us ham and melon as an entrée in the Summer months… something about it feels so home like to me I felt my mouth salivating just at the thought of this recipe!!
ttp://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt
What a great sister….those are memories who’ll have for a lifetime. This salad is gorgeous.
So nice that you got to surprise your brother. And what a gorgeous salad! He’s lucky to have a sister who’s both thoughtful and a great cook!
So pretty! I love the pink and green complementary colors!
Your brother’s surprise party sounds incredibly sweet. I love to hear about siblings getting along with one another. This salad is absolutely gorgeous! If glamour was a salad, this would be it! Great recipe!
xx Sydney
How FUN! And what a sweet sis you are! Going to be doing impusive things more often??? 🙂
Hope so! Thanks Nicole! Hope you had a great 4th!! 🙂
What a wonderful birthday gift for your brother.
And this salad is a wonderful gift for us.
Thanks Nancy!
So sweet that you were able to surprise your brother, I know his day was totally made! 🙂 And this salad – just wish it would magically appear in front of me for lunch because it’s just what I’m craving!
Thank you so much, Laura! I hope you had a great 4th of July weekend!
Wow. This is beyond lovely. Thank you for sharing. I love the bowl too!
Thanks rebecca! Hope you had a great weekend!
Wonderful that you joined your brother for his birthday celebration! And this salad, gorgeous!
Thanks so much, Brenda! Hope you had a great 4th Of July weekend! 🙂
What an awesome thing to do, for both you and your brother. Glad you had a great time. Sometimes its good to be a bit impulsive, especially with something like that. Your salad looks amazing, as always and I know will taste just as good. Pinned 🙂
Thanks Lynne!!
I immediately ran out and bought the ingredients for this beautiful dish. It tasted and looked GREAT! I made a few adjustments:
• a little less basil
• added spinach and arugula
• used maple smoked turkey instead of the prosciutto
• added fresh figs since I couldn’t resist them when I saw them in the store
Thanks as always for your amazing recipes! Wish I could insert my picture of the dish. It didn’t look as good as yours but it did look pretty terrific!
So happy you loved this, thanks!! Also, YUM to the figs! y favorite!!
This salad has so many delicious things that I love! And second, I can only imagine how excited you and your brother were to partake in this birthday bash!
Oh, how fun! It is great that you could get away, I had tears in my eyes reading this.. I have not seen my brother in 4 years, and I am going to in 3 weeks… I just can’t wait. It is so cool that you get along with his girlfriend so well, now he has no choice but to marry her 🙂
I just LOVE this salad, it’s so me, can’t get enough of basil and goat cheese! So making it! By the way,I am switching to Tieghan diet, only crave and cook things from your site..
Oh my gosh, 4 years!! I cannot even imagine! I hope you two have the best time together!!!
Also, so much yes to you last line!! THANKS!:)
And again, have so much fu with your brother!
Hi Tieghan!
I have been reading your blog… binge reading… I must say the photos are stunning! What a wonderful sister you are to cook for everyone. I too have 5 brothers plus 2 sisters. I remember that the boys could NOT be filled up. They would eat it faster than it could be cooked for them. I cannot wait to make these recipes. You are doing a fantastic job here.
Hi! Thank you so much for the beyond kind words, I am so flattered! Also, yes the boys just cannot get enough food…like ever.
Again, thank you so much! Hope you are having the best week! 🙂