Watermelon recipes

Summer is here and I am going to enjoy our local watermelons.  Rush Springs Oklahoma  is well known for the Black Diamond watermelons.  Our school host a Black Diamond basketball tournament every year. So they are a big deal to our community. 

Have you ever wondered how to pick a good ripe watermelon? There is a few different ways to pick out watermelons.  There easiest way is thumping it, if it is thud sounding thump it’s probably ripe. If there is a high pitch it’s going to be green. Now for me I look at the curly Q and if it’s green it’s going to be green, if it’s brown it’s going to be ripe.  Now if you look at the belly and it’s yellow it’s more than likely going to be ripe.  So many other factors to take in but you really don’t know how the watermelon is going to be till you cut it open. How do you check your watermelons? 

I really want to buy more watermelons and try different recipes. We have several local fruit stands that I plan on utilizing this summer.  Miller’s fruit stand seems to be a popular place, seems to be busy when I drive by in the evenings.  So will stop there to buy my first watermelon of the season. 

Watermelon Aqua Fresca

Part watermelon juice, part limeade, and 100% refreshing. It’s slightly sweet, making it a perfect daytime drink.  Of course you can stir in a shot of tequila or vodka for a boozy drink. Agua frescos hail from Mexico and are made from water blended with sugar and lime. Watermelon Agua Fresca would pair up well with a Mexican themed menu.  

Watermelon Aqua Fresca recipe

Ingredients 

6 cups seedless watermelon chunks plus small wedges for garnish

6 Tbsp sugar

1/3 cups seedless watermelon fresh lime juice

1/3 cup water

Fresh mint sprigs

Directions 

Combine watermelon , sugar, lime juice, and 1/3 cup water in a blender. Purée until smooth, about 30 seconds. 

Serve immediately, garnished with mint sprigs and watermelon wedges, or chill up to 3 days in advance.

Watermelon Salad

4 cups seedless watermelon cubes (about 1/2 -inch)

2 cups baby arugula leaves (packed)

1 cup thinly sliced cucumber 

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion 

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint 

1/4 cup lime juice (1-2 limes)

Freshly ground black pepper to taste 

Directions 

Toss all of the ingredients in a medium bowl, chill before serving  (Or if you want to serve immediately, be sure the watermelon, cucumber and lime juice is cold upon preparing). Garnish, if desired with a little freshly grounded, black pepper.

I hope to be able to try different watermelon recipes this summer. I have started writing down a few more recipes I would like to share with you.