Watermelon, fennel, tomato and beet millefeuille

For us, the magic of a kitchen garden is that a walk along its rows of fruit and vegetables can inspire the birth of a new dish. This revisited salad, which combines watermelon, tomato, and beets is an example. Serves 4.

Ingredients
  • 1/2 seedless watermelon
  • 2 large, ripen firm tomatoes
  • 2 medium red beets (beetroot)
  • 1 fennel bulb
  • 1 bunch fresh herbs: mint, basil, chives, parsley and dill
  • 4 teaspoons of toasted black and white sesame seeds
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • For the sauce ravigote: 1/2 cup of lemon juice
  • For the sauce ravigote: 1/3 cup of soy sauce
  • For the sauce ravigote: 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • For the sauce ravigote: 2 tablespoons of wholegrain mustard

Method

  • Using a mandoline, cut the fennel and beets into thin slices 1/16 inch (2mm) thick.
  • Carefully cut the tomatoes into thin slices using a serrated knife.
  • Peel the watermelon, keeping its round shape, and slice off 4 disks about 1 inch (2.5cm) thick.
  • Lay out a rosette of beet slices on 4 dinner plates.
  • Sprinkle the sliced fennel over the top.
  • Cover with a layer of thinly sliced tomatoes.
  • Top with the watermelon disks.
  • Sprinkle the fresh herbs over the dish.
  • Place in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
  • In the meantime, put the sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk vigorously.
  • Serve chilled, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds, and topped with a generous helping of sauce

 

Discover all our recipes in our new cookbook Tartine Confidential available in all Le Pain Quotidien restaurants. Find a restaurant here.