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Sweet and juicy, watermelon is the perfect summer food. Whether you just slice and eat or if you incorporate it into a salad or even grill it, nothing beats this quintessential summer fruit.
Besides being delicious, watermelon is a really healthy food too. From being a great source of hydration to containing vitamins, including C,A,B1, B5, and B6, this fruit should be a big part of your seasonal diet.
Peak watermelon season runs from May to September in the US, according to Food and Wine. Pick a ripe melon by checking the field spot on the bottom. The more yellow, the riper the fruit is. Since watermelon contains 90 percent water, choose a melon that feels heavy for its size. The best places to buy are from a local farm stand or market.
After you select the perfect melon, there are a myriad of ways to use it. Here are seven recipes that will help you use your watermelon from rind to rind:
Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint
This super simple recipe from Food and Wine is perfect will eating outside on a warm summer’s day. All you need is watermelon, mint (be generous with the mint), brined olives, and feta cheese, A seedless watermelon works best in this recipe. You can use a melon baller or cut the watermelon in cubes.
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Watermelon-Cilantro Lemonade
dd a delightful twist to your summer lemonade with this recipe from Country Living. All you need is lemon juice, watermelon, sugar, and some fresh cilantro. You can use a wooden spoon to help break down the watermelon or take a shortcut by using a hand mixer. Save some watermelon wedges and cilantro sprigs to dress up this summer favorite.
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Watermelon Salsa
Do you need to bring a tasty snack to the beach or park? Watermelon infused salsa and chips fits the bill. This recipe from the Kitchen Docs blog uses traditional salsa ingredients like green peppers, orange peppers, jalapeno, onion, and cilantro along with diced seedless watermelon. Its simple to make ahead and refrigerate.
Watermelon smoothie
There’s nothing better than sipping a cold smoothie during the summer. This watermelon, banana, and apple recipe from BBC Good Food is sure to please. Just peel, blend, pour into a glass, and enjoy. It’s that simple!
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Watermelon Soup with Fresh Mint
Cold summer soups are always a hit. This no-cook soup from Better Homes and Gardens is the perfect appetizer for a family meal. All you need is watermelon, plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, lime juice, mint, honey, and ginger. Save some mint springs to use as a garnish. Blend the ingredients, cover, and chill before serving.
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Grilled Watermelon
Dress up your summer barbeque with grilled watermelon. This recipe from Southern Living is really simple. All you need is a seedless watermelon, sugar, kosher salt, and any additional tangy seasonings you want. You need to brush the sugar and salt on both sides of the watermelon or it won’t char on the grill. Who says watermelon is just for dessert?
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Red, White, and Blue Fruit Salad
This colorful salad from the blog Foodie Crush is perfect for the 4th of July. The red color comes from watermelon, the blue from blueberries, and the white comes from jicama or white cheese. To keep the salad fresh and the colors true, use a lemon or lime dressing. Mix together or keep the watermelon and berries separate like the illustration below.
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