Watermelon Salad with Cotija and Serrano Chiles

Name: Watermelon Salad with Cotija and Serrano Chiles
Yield: Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients: 1/3 cup, lime juice (3 limes); 2 , scallions, white and green parts separated and sliced thin; 2 , serrano chiles, stemmed, halved, seeded, and sliced thin crosswise; 1-2 tablespoons, sugar (optional); 3/4 teaspoon, table salt; 6 cups (1½-inch) seedless, watermelon pieces; 3 ounces, cotija cheese, crumbled (¾ cup), divided; 5 tablespoons, chopped fresh cilantro, divided; 5 tablespoons chopped roasted, salted, pepitas, divided

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Appears in Cook's Illustrated July/August 2020, America's Test Kitchen TV

Pairing sweet, luscious melon with salty, savory elements is nothing new—it's how you do it that can make all the difference.

SERVES4 to 6

TIME20 minutes

has video

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

Melon salads are ideal hot-weather fare, but they're prone to some common pitfalls: namely, watered-down dressings and garnishes that slide to the bottom of the salad bowl. Because watermelons vary in sweetness, we started by tasting our wa...

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