When you think about watermelon, the color that you likely think of is the deep green skin with a reddish-pink flesh. Imagine the surprise of biting into your favorite summer snack and seeing a bright yellow hue. The newest trend in the fruit world is serving yellow watermelon instead of the traditional pink fruit. The taste is almost identical, with a slightly sweeter, almost honey-like flavor and the options for using these melons are equally endless! Yellow watermelons can be picked from your grocery store or farmers market in the same way you pick a regular watermelon and have the same shape and consistency. Yellow watermelon can be used to bring variety to a fruit salad, add a pop of color to a fun, fruity cocktail or frozen to create an inventive fruit-sicle.
Watermelons have always been a popular summer staple. Whether it’s sliced up for a picnic, cut up as a garnish for a drink or blended for your favorite smoothie, watermelon’s drum up memories of summer’s past. Watermelon is a great snack because it is loaded with vitamins and nutrients, low in calories and is full of water for those sweltering summer months! This summer, the classic watermelon has experienced a resurgence in a new and refreshing way with all of the same health benefits.
©Kirti Poddar
With temperatures reaching a perfect seventy eight degrees at the beach, there has never been a better time for a refreshing summer cocktail. While many summer drinks are filled with syrups, calories and sugar, a watermelon cooler is the perfect way to cool off without loading up on calories. The watermelon fizz is easy to make and even easier to drink! Just add some crushed watermelon into your favorite liqueur over ice and you have a perfect summer cocktail!
Watermelon Fizz
By: Simon Sopresi, Director of Food and Beverage
2 oz. vodka
1 oz. fresh lime juice
½-1 oz. simple syrup
2 chunks watermelon
2 chopped basil leaves
pinch of salt
Blend all ingredients and garnish with watermelon and basil.
©Dinner Series
Watermelon is not only great for drinks and as a side dish but can be incorporated into main dishes as well. With a little creativity and time, you can create a watermelon salad that guests will be thinking about for days to come. During the summer, salad is the perfect dish to serve. It’s not too heavy, it’s refreshing and has all the flavors and textures one craves for dinner. Add watermelon to your favorite salad for a perfect summer dish. Enjoy it with a white wine and dine al fresco!
Watermelon & King Crab Salad
By: Sven Mede, Corporate Chef, ETC Hotels
1.5 lbs. watermelon, red or yellow, diced in 1 inch squares
1 lemon, juice and vest
Marinate the diced melon with a pinch of salt and 1 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tangerines, juice and segments
5 tbsp. olive oil
Make a dressing from tangerine juice, olive oil and season with salt and pepper
1 red jalapeno, sliced no seeds
3 tbsp. white wine vinegar
3 tbsp. simple syrup
Bring simple syrup and vinegar to a boil and pour over sliced jalapeno. Cool down and reserve.
5 oz. hearts of palm
1 bunch, watercress
7 oz., king crab meat
Slice hearts of palm. Season crab, hearts of palm and watercress separately with tangerine vinaigrette and lemon zest. Place six dices of melon on each plate then add crab and hearts of palm. Garnish with jalapeno slices, tangerine segments and watercress. Finish by topping with additional dressing.
