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Burmese Gin Thoke Melon Salad

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Burmese <em>Gin Thoke</em> Melon SaladJennifer May, courtesy of Clarkson Potter

If it's melon season, you have to make this. In Burma (Myanmar), gin thoke, meaning "ginger mix," is a blend of crispy fried garlic, sesame seeds, and ginger, and is eaten as a sweet digestive snack after meals. Although not native to the region, melons are a refreshing and delicious complement to this dressing, together making a perfect summertime side dish. The ginger is key to this salad. Ideally, the gingerroot should be so young that the skin is almost transparent and the roots are tipped with pink.

Cooks' Note

*Young ginger: Found in Asia, young ginger has a very white, almost transparent skin, with root ends that are tinted pink. With juicy flesh and very few fibers, it is ideal for eating raw. The taste is more delicate and milder than that of mature ginger.
**Kaffir lime leaf: A thorny bush with aromatic, hourglass-shaped leaves, common to Southeast Asia, kaffir lime has an intense and unique pepper-lime flavor. It is also called "kieffer lime," "makrut," or "magrood." If you can't find it, you can substitute grated lime zest.

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