Think of watermelon and tall glasses of iced juice or luscious red slices of the fruit come to mind. But watermelon is much more versatile than it is usually given credit for. It can be used to make lip-smacking desserts, salads and curries too!
There is more to watermelon than just dicing, juicing and freezing. Read on to discover all the intriguing possibilities that this ever-popular summer fruit has to offer.
- Watermelon Desserts: Watermelon is ideal for making cool, refreshing treats especially in the summertime. You can freeze it on Popsicle sticks or turn it into sorbets. Add a twist to the recipes by adding a hint of lime or a dash of mint juice. Or you can surprise your kids by making watermelon jelly. Make strawberry or raspberry jelly using 450 ml of water and add the juice of a small melon (strained). Cool in the refrigerator till set and serve.
- Watermelon Chaat Salad: While watermelon is a regular in Mediterranean salads, it works surprisingly well as Indian street food too. Deseed and cube one small watermelon, one mango, one onion and one cucumber. Sprinkle chaat masala, salt and sugar. Toss to mix well. Squeeze lemon juice, garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve chilled.
- Watermelon Curry: You’d be surprised to know that the watermelon rind (the white portion), which is usually discarded, is rich in vitamins and completely edible. Heat oil, and add mustard seeds, black gram bean and curry leaves. Fry till golden and add ½ teaspoon of sambar powder, followed by 1 cup of cubed watermelon rind. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes without water, as the rind by itself is high in water content. The end result is a delicious mix of flavors and textures – spicy, sweet, crunchy. Enjoy this with rice or roti.
Think beyond the usual this summer and work out some creative new recipes of your own with watermelon!
