Ahi tuna, shrimp, melon

I have been craving this ever since I discovered it way back ... way back ... way back there 2/3 through August, which is like a month ago. 

You know how when you put salt on watermelon it completely changes it? It's great to begin with but a tiny bit of salt, POWIE! It's suddenly 10X  better.

That is what is happening here. The dressing was a little bit different that first time, but still the same dealio.

Dressing:

*  1 tablespoon soy sauce
*  1/4 cup cold tap water
*  1/8 teaspoon mixed pepper flakes (last time it was Sriracha sauce)
*  1/8 teaspoon toasted sesame seed oil
*  1/2 teaspoon refined sugar (last time included strawberry coulis)
*  3/4 teaspoon rice vinegar (last time used lime juice)
*  1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger (omitted last time)
*  black pepper


*  (no olive oil like last time)
*  (no shrimp last time either, and orange segments were included)

So, the exact same thing as before, 'cept di-fernt.

Ahi tuna, fruit and melon salad

Orange sections, watermelon, and cantaloupe, with thinly sliced raw ahi tuna tossed in a homemade Asian dressing.

The thing that makes this salad so amazing is the effect that the dressing has on each individual ingredient. The dressing changes the watermelon to something never tasted before. The same with all the other melon and fruit pieces. And then the ahi tuna contributes a refreshing cold protein, oddly matched with melon and fruit. Frankly, I've never had anything remotely like this. If I were ever served something similar to this in a restaurant, I would consider the chef to be a strange and adventurous culinary savant. 

The dressing is surprisingly good. I invented it a long time ago and only occasionally remember to use it. I stopped preparing it habitually because of its dark and somewhat unattractive color. The original version did not use any oil but did incorporate grated ginger and garlic. This version does use oil but omits the ginger and garlic. Nothing is measured. The amounts below are approximations to convey the idea. 

Dressing:

*  1/4 cup cold tap water

*  1 tablespoon soy sauce (this is what makes the unattractively dressing dark)

*  1 teaspoon hot Sriracha sauce

*  1/8 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

*  1/2 teaspoon white refined sugar (anything sweet will work)

*  1 tablespoon strawberry coulis from here (only because I have it on hand presently)
*  1/2 lime (squeezed juice, otherwise 2 teaspoons rice vinegar)
*  1 tablespoon olive oil (or any vegetable oil)
*  generous grind of black pepper (but no salt, the soy sauce is salty enough)

Mix ingredients in a small covered jar and shake. The dressing is very watery. Pour over the salad and roll all the ingredients around in an oversized bowl until everything is fully coated then drain off the excess dressing, if there is any.