Watermelon is a summer staple. There’s nothing better than biting into a juicy slice of watermelon on a hot summer’s day. Or is there? These refreshing ways to enjoy watermelon will convince you to incorporate watermelon into more of your meals this summer.
“With summer coming, we’re always looking for a great way to use the fruits of the season; and watermelon is the quintessential fruit of summer,” thinks Philip Hoel (Moline, IL). “This recipe works very well over say grilled chicken, pork, or even a mild poached fish.”
Philip’s Spicy Watermelon Salsa is a delicious addition to the dinner table. It can be used as a salsa to snack on with tortilla chips. Or, scoop it over a grilled protein. I did that with chicken and loved the sweet and spicy flavor combination. It would be just as good on fish.
If you need a new summertime salad, you need to add Cheryl Kemptner (Palm Desert, CA) Redneck Watermelon Summer Salad to your menu.
“Watermelon and pineapple for the most refreshing summer salad you’ll ever make,” shares Cheryl. “So good some folks may eat it for dessert, too!”
Whether you have it alongside a meal or enjoy it as a dessert, this no-bake treat is fantastic. It’s cool, creamy, and refreshing with chunks of watermelon and pineapple in every bite.
I love the crunchy texture that the pecans add to the salad. If you’re hosting any cookouts or potlucks, this will be a hit.
Another salad that’s a little more traditional is Sheri Mullins’ (Midland, TX) Watermelon Summer Salad.
“A light refreshing side dish for the heat of the summer,” is how Sheri explains her recipe. “Our summers here in Texas routinely go over 100 degrees. The last thing I wanted was to heat my kitchen so I came up with this dish by combining a few different recipes. It was a hit!”
At first, the combination of ingredients had me intrigued, but they all work together. It’s surprisingly fresh and delicious.
Soaking cucumbers in the vinegar mixture is strong. But once they are mixed with the sweet watermelon and tomatoes it balances flavors out. Feta adds a little bit of salt.
Karen Baumgarten (Tomah, WI) says that her Creamy Watermelon Pie is “a great pie for the summer months” and I completely agree.
If you want a fresh, fruity, and sweet no-bake dessert, then you need to make this super creamy watermelon pie. Karen uses a graham cracker crust, but it could easily be switched up with a shortbread crust.
Looking for a new drink for sipping on by the pool? Donna Graffagnino’s Frozen Watermelon Margarita is just the recipe you need.
“This is a delicious summertime treat that’s so easy to make, especially with seedless watermelon,” says Donna. “I use Triple Sec but any orange-flavored liqueur can be used to suit your taste.”
Freezing the watermelon means you don’t have to add much ice to this summery drink. It’s sweet and full of watermelon flavor with a slight tang from the lime.
If you’re wondering what you can do with a lot of watermelon, try one of these Blue Ribbon recipes. They’re all super refreshing and delish. Happy Pinching!