Elevating the Watermelon

Watermelon festivals held every summer for more than three decades in Fair Bluff, Winterville and Murfreesboro were unfortunate casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic. In honor of the festivals, which are postponed until next year, it seems fitting to highlight the stalwart fruit of North Carolina summers.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate the watermelon using new and unconventional methods right at home in your own kitchen.

Simply slicing up a watermelon for the beach or a backyard barbecue is always a welcome treat, but the time-honored fruit tends to be underutilized in more epicurean cuisine. The watermelon’s flavor profile actually offers a capacity for elevated implementations that aren’t commonplace.

For your next backyard shindig, wow your guests with a refreshing take on the iconic summer staple.

Grilled Watermelon with Prosciutto, Shaved Parmesan and Pine Nut Gremolata

Serves Six

Ingredients

½ watermelon, sliced into standard triangles, rind on, seeds removed as best as possible

1 pkg of thinly sliced prosciutto

1 lemon, zested and juiced

1 bunch of parsley, chopped

1 cup of pine nuts, chopped

3 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp of sea salt

½ cup shaved Parmesan

Preparation

Heat grill to 400 degrees. Slice watermelon into 1-inch thick triangles. In a medium-size mixing bowl, add chopped pine nuts, olive oil, chopped parsley, lemon peel, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and sea salt. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. Grill watermelon for 2 minutes on each side, spritzing some of the lemon juice onto the watermelon near the end of cooking. When watermelon is nearly done, top each piece with 1 to 2 tablespoons of mixture from bowl and close lid for 1 minute. Remove from heat and place on serving tray. Garnish with 1 to 2 slices of prosciutto and shaved Parmesan.

Watermelon, Feta & Arugula Salad

Ingredients

½ watermelon, cubed into ½-inch bites, seeds removed

1 bunch of arugula

1 pkg of feta cheese, crumbled

5 basil leaves, sliced into chiffonade

½ of lemon, zested and juiced

5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp red wine vinegar

1 Tbsp of honey

½ tsp of sea salt

½ tsp brown mustard

½ tsp dried oregano

½ tsp paprika

½ tsp black pepper

Preparation

In a blender or a small mixing bowl if you have an immersion blender, combine 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest, olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, sea salt, mustard, oregano, paprika and pepper. Blend until emulsified. In salad bowl, add arugula and dress with mixture. Top with watermelon cubes and feta, and garnish with basil chiffonade.

Watermelon & Tuna Poke with Jicama, Lime & Cilantro         

Serves Six

Ingredients

2 large, sashimi-grade tuna steaks, cut into ½-inch cubes

½ watermelon, cut into ½-inch cubes, seeds removed

1 cup of jicama, thinly sliced into strips

1 lime, zested and juiced

1 cup of cilantro, chopped

½ cup scallions, sliced

½ cup rice wine vinegar

2 Tbsp sunflower oil

1 Tbsp kosher salt

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp jalapeño, finely chopped

1 tsp agave nectar or honey

½ teaspoon cumin

1 cup of cooked short grain, sushi rice

Preparation

Rinse tuna steaks, pat dry and cut into ½-inch cubes. Add to large bowl. Add all remaining ingredients, reserving half of the cilantro, and gently fold together. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Serve chilled over rice and garnished with remaining cilantro.

Watermelon Marinated Grilled Chicken Skewers with Spicy Watermelon Coulis and Pickled Watermelon Rind

Serves Six

Ingredients

4 free-range, organic chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces

3 cups watermelon juice, (about half of a 6-lb. watermelon)

2 large habanero peppers, finely chopped, seeds removed

6 cloves of garlic, minced

1 lime, zested and juiced

2 tsp of white balsamic vinegar

2 tsp of sugar

2 tsp of sea salt

1 bunch of mint, chopped

1 bunch of cilantro, chopped

Preparation

Place watermelon chunks in a juicer or a blender and get it as liquefied as possible. Add habaneros, garlic, lime juice, white balsamic, sugar and salt to blender, or use a large bowl and immersion blender (if using a juicer for watermelon, switch to blender or immersion blender method). Purée until ingredients are well blended. Pour mixture into a medium pot and simmer on low-medium heat for 25 minutes, then let cool. Place raw chicken in a bowl, pour 3/4 of watermelon coulis over top, then cover and marinate for 4 to 6 hours. Heat grill to 450 degrees. Skewer chicken chunks and grill for about 4 minutes on each side. When done, lightly brush with small amount of watermelon coulis and cook for another minute. Plate skewers and pour remaining coulis on top and garnish with chopped mint and cilantro. Serve with pickled watermelon rind.

For Pickled Watermelon Rind

1 rind from 6-lb. watermelon (approximately 2 pounds), cut into 1-inch strips

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup water

¾ cup sugar

1 tsp of fresh ginger, grated

4 tsp of kosher salt

1 tsp of cayenne powder

1 tsp of cinnamon

½ tsp of coriander

½ tsp of nutmeg

Preparation for Pickled Watermelon Rind

Peel off outermost, thin, green layer with a vegetable peeler. Slice rind into 1-inch strips. Bring remaining ingredients to a boil in large pot and add rind. Return to boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat and allow to cool. Remove the rind from pot, add to mason jar, then pour liquid on top until jar is full. Close lid and refrigerate overnight.