Malaysian Watermelon Salad

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups seasoned rice vinegar
• 2 (3 inch) pieces fresh ginger root, peeled and lightly crushed
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups watermelon rind, white part only, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 (1 pound) package thick cut bacon
• 1/2 cup peeled and chopped fresh ginger root
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 4 limes, juiced
• 1 cup seasoned rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 bunch cilantro, stems and leaves separated
• 12 cups chilled seedless watermelon, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped

Directions

Bring 1 1/2 cups of seasoned rice vinegar to a boil in a saucepan, and mix in the 2 pieces of crushed ginger root, shallots, red pepper flakes, 1/4 cup of light brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir until the brown sugar and salt have dissolved, and remove from heat. Place watermelon rind into a large heatproof nonreactive bowl, and strain the pickling liquid through a fine mesh strainer into the watermelon rind. Stir to combine, and refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate. Chop the bacon into pieces when cooled.

For dressing, place 1/2 cup of peeled and chopped ginger, garlic, lime juice, 1 cup of seasoned rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and cilantro stems in a blender. Blend on high speed, scraping down blender sides occasionally, until the ginger and cilantro stems are pulverized and the dressing is thoroughly blended.

To assemble, place about 1 cup of watermelon cubes onto a salad plate, and drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of the dressing. Top with about 2 tablespoons of the pickled rind, 1 to 2 tablespoons of bacon bits, 1 tablespoon of cilantro leaves, and about 1/2 tablespoon of chopped green onion, or to taste.