Melon Salad With Sweet Sesame Dressing - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Sweet Sesame Dressing
1/3 cup unbleached white sugar
3 tablespoons champagne vinegar or 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (or freshly grated if you prefer)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted (sub half of the portion with black sesame seeds for color)
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 dash cayenne pepper
Salad
2 cups cut up seedless watermelon (read *Note)
2 cups cut up cantaloupe
2 cups cut up honeydews
1 cup sliced English cucumber (if available try 1/2 cup each of English cucumber and lemon cucumber)
lettuce leaf
snipped fresh cilantro (optional)
crisp cooked bacon, drained and crumbled (optional)

Preparation

*Note: if you can find yellow watermelon, substitute half yellow for red watermelon.
In small saucepan combine sugar, vinegar, salt, and ginger. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat.
Place dressing in a medium bowl. Slowly add both oils to sugar mixture in a thin steady stream, whisking constantly until thickened.
Stir in sesame seeds, sesame oil, and cayenne pepper; set aside.
In large bowl combine melon and cucumber. Add 1/2 cup of the dressing; toss to coat.
Line salad bowls or a platter with lettuce; top with melon mixture. If desired, sprinkle with cilantro and bacon.
Pass remaining dressing.