Refreshing Summer Recipes with Watermelon

Summer is the favorite time of year for watermelon lovers. Refreshing, low-calorie and thirst-quenching, it is perfect for a quick snack or to end a big summer meal on a healthy note.

Choosing the right watermelon

To choose the right watermelon, check its weight. Take it in your hands and compare it with other watermelons to see which one is the heaviest. The heaviest will then be the one with the most sugar water, and, in 99% of cases, the best. Also, don’t hesitate to tap on the rind of the watermelon and check if you hear a resonance. If this is the case, then you are holding the right watermelon between your fingers. If once at home, the watermelon lacks taste, place it cut into four (or two minimum), cellophane-wrapped, in the refrigerator for a few hours. The cold increases its flavors tenfold since it prevents the water contained in the watermelon (water, let’s remember, naturally sweet and therefore the source of the watermelon’s taste) from evaporating. Otherwise, add a pinch of salt to the watermelon! In small quantities, you will not taste the salt, but rather the sugar tenfold! A surprising experience that is worth the detour.

What do you do with watermelon?

Watermelon is not only eaten as is! It is also possible to prepare it as granita, sorbet, soup, salad (sweet or savory!), cocktail, carpaccio or even grilled on the barbecue! Watermelon is therefore not only a fruit to be enjoyed raw, but also has a multitude of possibilities for preparations, and especially for combinations. Enhanced with a lemon zest, combined with feta or melon, or even sprinkled with a pinch of salt to sweeten the watermelon, this fruit always delights. To prepare watermelon, simply remove its rind, cut its interior into cubes or slices and enjoy. With other fruits, watermelon goes very well with melon! Both are very thirst-quenching and have a similar texture (melon is however more substantial in the mouth than watermelon, because it is less watery). Otherwise, try preparing a fruit salad with banana, nectarines and watermelon. Cut into cubes and chilled for 30 minutes in the same bowl, enjoy the combination of tenderness, crunch and melting. To rethink the presentation of watermelon eaten as is, take out the skewers by alternating watermelon cubes, feta cubes and mint leaves! Otherwise, as a main course, watermelon is suitable in a salad with spinach shoots and condiments (such as onions for example), peppers or even olives. A little cream cheese to top it all off and it’s ready.

Here are 9 watermelon recipes for a refreshing summer.