Easy Summer Recipes Courtesy of MasterChef Contestants

 

 

Last week contributing writers Deah Mitchell and Shanda Pierce interviewed MasterChef  Season 9 contestants Shanika Patterson, Gerron Patterson and Ashley Mincey.

All three shared recipes for you to try own your own.  Below are Gerron and Shanika’s.  Click here for Ashley’s Vegan ganache truffles.

MasterChef’s Gerron Hurt’s pasta salad recipe is simple to make and perfect for any get together.

GERRON’S PASTA SALAD

Ingredients:

• Pasta noodles- any kind but preferably angel hair
• Onions, tomatoes, Cucumber
• Italian dressing- any brand
• Optional: Feta cheese, 1 teaspoon sugar

Preparation:

• Boil noodles until aldente
• Chop onions, cucumber, tomatoes to bite size pieces
• Rinse noodles in cold water
• Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl
• Add Italian dressing to desired consistency

There’s no cooking required for this summer refresher, a creation from Shanika Patterson of Season 9 MasterChef.  And, it’s exactly the side you want to bring to a summer cookout  as watermelon season inevitably comes to a close. Shanika adds feta cheese crumbles, greens for color and sprinkles of sesame seeds into the mix for a tasty, healthy treat.

 

SHANIKA’S WATERMELON SALAD

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Seedless watermelon
• Feta Cheese crumbles
• Micro Greens
• Sesame seeds

Preparation:

• Cut seedless watermelon into your desired shape
• Place on a paper towel to drain the excess water.
• Tower ingredients, starting with the watermelon on bottom layer to plate the salad. Finish the salad with a sprinkle of the toasted sesame seeds.

SHANIKA’S (IMPROVED) WATERMELON SALAD

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Seedless watermelon
• 1/4 cup of Golden berries (may be substituted for white grapes)
• 1/4 cup Cherry tomatoes
• Baby arugula
• Sesame seeds
• (Optional Salad Dressing) Sweet Balsamic Vinaigrette

Preparation:

• Cut seedless the watermelon into your desired shape.
• Place them on a paper towel to drain the excess liquid.
• Slice tomatoes and goldenberries in half
• Toast the sesame seeds
• Plate the salad starting with the watermelon and layer the remaining ingredients. Finish the salad with a sprinkle of the toasted sesame seed

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