Everybody is aware of that when the climate heats up, watermelon comes out. Not solely does this fruit style its finest throughout the summer season months, however watermelon recipes are the proper companion for poolside enjoyable and all issues outdoor. Whether or not you’re craving a savory salad with recent, juicy slices or maybe a candy deal with to finish the day, this record has every little thing you can dream of.
Earlier than we get into the perfect watermelon recipes this summer season, there are a couple of necessary particulars to bear in mind when making ready and choosing your fruit. You gained’t need to miss these steps, as going up in opposition to an entire watermelon with out some fruit-cutting expertise may be daunting. By no means concern, nonetheless—look no additional for every little thing you have to know for a simple breezy watermelon expertise.
How you can Choose the Greatest Watermelon
There are a couple of key methods to make sure you’re selecting the ripest, sweetest, and tastiest watermelon of the bunch. Other than the truth that watermelon thrives in the summertime, under are extra issues to bear in mind throughout your farmer’s market journey.
- Form and Measurement. rule of thumb—the heavier the watermelon, the juicier it’s. They’re manufactured from 90% water, in spite of everything! Moreover, the perfect watermelon will probably be symmetrical in form, whether or not it’s spherical or oval. Irregular shapes can point out that throughout the rising course of, the watermelon acquired inconsistent quantities of solar or water.
- The Area Spot. When selecting your melon, take into account the place your fruit grew. A yellowish spot on the watermelon, generally known as the sphere spot, can point out the place the watermelon grew and ripened on the bottom. If the spot is a darker shade of yellow, the watermelon is more likely to be sweeter and extra mature.
- The Sound Take a look at. When you’ve picked a handsome melon, faucet the fruit along with your knuckles. A ripe watermelon could have a deep, hole sound, whereas an unripe watermelon will produce a flat or uninteresting sound when tapped.
How you can Lower and Prep Watermelon
There are a few methods to go about slicing a watermelon. If its dimension is overwhelming, these strategies might assist to simplify the method.
Slices
- Slice off each ends of the watermelon.
- Stand the watermelon upright and halve the watermelon.
- Place every half flat-side down and minimize it in half once more to quarter the melon.
- Slice the quarters into 1-inch slices or no matter dimension you like.
Cubes/Sticks
- Slice off each ends of the watermelon.
- Stand the watermelon upright and halve the watermelon.
- Place every half flat-side down and minimize it in half once more to quarter the melon.
- Place every of your quarters flat aspect down, and thoroughly slice alongside the rind to take away it.
- When you’ve eliminated your rind, minimize the watermelon flesh into sticks after which into cubes if most well-liked.
15 Watermelon Recipes for a Candy Summer time
Watermelon Chopped Greek Salad
Why We Love It: Till just lately, I didn’t perceive how versatile watermelon might be, which meant that I hadn’t explored together with it in my summer season salads. Should you’re on the lookout for a wholesome and attractive aspect salad to current at your summer season gatherings, this chopped Greek salad is the proper crowd-pleaser.
Hero Ingredient: A little bit of feta goes a great distance.
Grilled Watermelon Salad
Why We Love It: Grilled fruit is one in all my summer season cooking secrets and techniques. Paired with a crumbly cheese of your selection, corresponding to feta or goat cheese, this recipe is easy and liked by friends of all ages. Plus, the grill time is lower than 5 minutes, which suggests extra time for enjoyable within the solar.
Hero Ingredient: The cheese is the important thing.
Watermelon Vodka Cocktail
Why We Love It: Everyone knows and love watermelon bevs, however this vodka cocktail is scrumptious and absurdly simple to make. Impressed by the cocktail recipe from chef/proprietor Helene Henderson of Malibu Farm, it’s the last word drink to sip on this summer season. Merely shake all 4 elements collectively and serve it up!
Hero Ingredient: Recent lime juice provides a little bit of tang to this cocktail.
Watermelon Punch
Why We Love It: Should you’re on the lookout for a NA choice to serve up, this watermelon punch is for you. With a wholesome quantity of watermelon chunks, paired with lime juice and bubbly membership soda, it’s the proper option to keep hydrated and refreshed within the warmth.
Hero Ingredient: Membership soda makes this drink really feel elevated and lightweight.
Watermelon Tomato Caprese Salad
Why We Love It: Caprese salads are my go-to for summer season, as they encompass every little thing that I am keen on throughout the hotter months. Creamy mozzarella cheese, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crunchy cucumbers are the savory parts that work to enhance recent watermelon on this gorgeous salad. For sure, I’m a bit obsessed.
Hero Ingredient: A high-quality EVOO can provide this salad a wealthy addition.
Watermelon Mint Margarita
Why We Love It: It wouldn’t be summer season with out a margarita recipe to quench your thirst. It’s onerous to withstand the slushy mixture of recent fruit and tequila after a day within the warmth, and this recipe is bound to fulfill your yearning for the frozen bev.
Hero Ingredient: Recent mint and watermelon are an elite duo.
Watermelon Salad with Cucumber and Feta
Why We Love It: Should you’re like me, you’re all the time on the hunt for a brand new summer season salad recipe that includes seasonal flavors. Paired with a easy limey olive oil French dressing, this watermelon salad takes lower than an hour to throw collectively, together with time spent chilling within the fridge.
Hero Ingredient: Child arugula provides a little bit of inexperienced goodness to this recent fruit salad.
Spicy Watermelon Salad
Why We Love It: With a spicy Indian-inspired kick to enhance cool summer season flavors, this is among the watermelon recipes you can’t go with out this season. With additions like paneer and chaat masala to spice up your recent sliced fruit, it is a bowl of candy, tangy taste.
Hero Ingredient: Paneer as a salad ingredient? Sure, please.
Crispy Salmon with Watermelon Mint Salsa
Why We Love It: That is the summer season of salmon recipes. The fish is simple to organize in a pinch and may be paired with all kinds of candy and savory toppings that you could be even have mendacity round in your fridge or pantry.
Hero Ingredient: I’ll be including this watermelon mint salsa to simply about every little thing for the foreseeable future.
Watermelon Skewers
Why We Love It: These skewers can function a candy snack or a lightweight dessert. Both approach, they’re a must have for summer season. Merely add all of your fruit to skewers, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and basil, and revel in!
Hero Ingredient: There’s simply one thing about watermelon and basil.
Watermelon Salad with Kale and Avocado
Why We Love It: Filled with handfuls of curly kale and crispy veggies like sliced fennel, cucumbers, and crunchy radishes, that is THE summer season salad. With sliced avocado and crumbled feta to steadiness out the daring textures on this bowl, it’s onerous to withstand.
Hero Ingredient: I’m a bit fan of avocado on absolutely anything.
Watermelon Agua Fresca from Isabel Eats
Why We Love It: This agua fresa recipe is a foolproof drink that each one ages and tastebuds can take pleasure in. All it takes is watermelon, water, and a little bit of sugar, and also you’ve received your self a easy summer season bev that’s excellent for the sunniest days.
Hero Ingredient: Relating to a brewing up a refreshing bev, ending issues off with a sprig of recent mint is all the time the reply.
Strawberry Watermelon Sorbet from Minimalist Baker
Why We Love It: Maybe probably the most well-known watermelon dessert is sorbet. It consists of an ice cream-like texture, minus the dairy and the copious quantities of sugar. Made by mixing frozen watermelon along with your alt milk of your selection—together with frozen strawberries and bananas—it’s the last word dessert recipe to get probably the most out of your summer season fruits.
Hero Ingredient: Incorporating another milk corresponding to almond or coconut offers this sorbet a pleasant mouthfeel whereas nonetheless being dairy-free.
Watermelon Salsa from Recipe Lady
Why We Love It: Everybody loves a great salsa recipe to snack on pre-dinner or all through the day. This watermelon salsa is a sweeter tackle the historically tomato and pepper-based appetizer. Bonus: with solely six elements, it may be thrown collectively in quarter-hour.
Hero Ingredient: Recent jalapeños add a great, spicy kick.
Simple Chocolate Dipped Watermelon Bites from The Glutenless Maximus
Why We Love It: That is a kind of “don’t knock it ’until you attempt it” watermelon recipes. But when the flavour combo appears up your alley, it is a gorgeous and easy dessert that’s certain to fulfill your candy tooth. Merely dip your ripe watermelon items in darkish or milk chocolate and sprinkle with a little bit of sea salt.
Hero Ingredient: No matter chocolate you go for, it offers a pleasant little bit of decadence to this virtuous dessert.
