Despite popular belief that watermelon is made up of only water and sugar, watermelon is actually considered a nutrient dense food, a food that provides a high amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for only a small number of calories.
Watermelons have become synonymous with summer and picnics, and for good reason. Their refreshing quality and sweet taste help to combat the heat and also provide a guilt-free treat! From breakfast to late-night snacks, watermelon is the perfect match for salty, savoury, bitter or spicy.
Think beyond the wedge and add watermelon to your next meal. It’s a versatile recipe ingredient and healthy snack for any time of day. Find some of our favourite recipes here:
Watermelon Gazpacho:
- 6 cups cubed de-seeded watermelon
- 2 cucumbers, chopped
- 2 red bell peppers, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 20 small mint leaves
Reserve 20 small pieces of watermelon for garnish. Working in batches, place the remaining watermelon, the cucumbers, red bell peppers, onion, jalapeno pepper, lemon juice, olive oil, 3 tablespoons of fresh mint, the ginger, honey, and pineapple juice into a blender, and blend for about 30 seconds per batch. The mixture should be well blended but retain some texture. Pour into a large jug or bowl, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve in bowls, and garnish each bowl with a couple of chunks of the retained watermelon and 2 small mint leaves.
Watermelon Salad:
Salty cheese and sweet watermelon are made for each other!
Chop the watermelon up and put it in the fridge to chill. When the melon chunks are nearly ice-cold, take them out and toss with crumbles of the goat feta, a little fresh rosemary and a tiny trickle of olive oil.
Ta-da! A refreshing salad suitable for lunch, supper, or dessert. Of course, we can’t take any credit for this; feta cheese and watermelon are a classic pair. We simply executed it.
Watermelon Smoothie:
Watermelon blends well with bananas and other creamy-textured fruit, and adds a delicious flavour accent in a green smoothie.
Because of the high water content of watermelons, you should use less water in your smoothie than you would with other recipes so that you get a thick, creamy texture.
- 2 cups seedless watermelon
- 1 orange
- 1 banana
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach (or other leafy green)
- Add water if needed
Put it all in the blender, mix and enjoy!
Watermelon Salsa:
Juicy watermelon replaces tomatoes in this salsa that’s simultaneously cool and spicy hot -perfect for a summer barbecue. Serve it with tortilla chips, or use it as a topping for grilled chicken or fish.
- 3 cups chopped watermelon
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onions
- 1 tablespoon chopped jalapeno pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
In a large bowl, combine the watermelon, green bell pepper, lime juice, cilantro, green onions, jalapeno and garlic salt. Mix well and serve. Yummie …