Ways with watermelon

Nothing says summertime more than cool, refreshing watermelon. After you’ve invested the labor in chopping up the melon, why not kick it up a notch? You can use this versatile fruit it in salads, side dishes, beverages and more. Watermelon’s sweet, subtle flavor is the perfect foil for tart or rich foods.

The fruit has a particular affinity for feta, and you’ll find several salad recipes featuring both, like Nigella Lawson’s watermelon, feta and black olive salad (pictured left). That salad is so good it’s highly rated in two different versions of Nigella’s Forever Summer cookbook! Indexed blog Food Wishes has a slightly different take  with a watermelon and feta with toasted cashews salad. 

But you don’t have to stop there. Watermelon is equally at home in drinks, both with alcohol and without. Sip on indexed blog Tinned Tomatoes’ watermelon & strawberry smoothie, or refresh yourself with Watermelon agua fresca from Delicious Magazine (AUS). If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, try Bon Appétit‘s watermelon, lime, and tequila frozen cocktail or a Campari watermelon spritz from Australian Gourmet Traveller Magazine.

Don’t let your watermelon rind go to waste after you’ve made a delicious salad or beverage. You can easily pickle the rind for a crunchy, delicious treat. Try this Member indexed recipe for watermelon rind jam (Murabbat raggi) from the cookbook  Delights from the Garden of Eden, or Food 52’s spicy, savory & sweet watermelon rind pickles. What’s your favorite watermelon recipe?