Watermelon is the fresh and juicy taste of summer. Here in Korea, 수박 is in season right now and all over the peninsula, big juicy melons are practically given away. Sweet and delicious, it’s a fab fruit to eat by itself. However, watermelons are big and there are a variety of exciting ways you can enjoy it. So check out these awesomely inspired ideas for trying something a little bit different.
Grilled Watermelon
Did you know you can throw a wedge of watermelon on the barbecue? Well, you can, and it tastes delicious. Forget the steaks and grill up your favorite fruit instead, for a tasty and healthy result. Grilling watermelon caramelizes the sugars inside, making it even tastier.
Vodka Watermelon
Everything tastes better with vodka, right? Cut a hole in the top of your watermelon, and shove in a bottle of vodka, leaving it overnight to work its magic. The vodka will seep into the watermelon flesh and get you drunk off your ass. One of these and a healthy breakfast for any would be alcoholic, without fear of judgement. Soju also works well here for those who can’t afford generic vodka.
Watermelon Cake
A watermelon that’s shaped and frosted like a cake? What could be better? Now you can have your cake and eat it too, with this fresh and tasty low-calorie option.
Ingredients
- 2 cans of coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla
- 3 tablespoons of icing sugar
- 1/2 a teaspoon of xanthan gum (if available)
- 1 watermelon
- fruit for decoration
Directions
- To turn the coconut milk into cream you need to put the cans in the fridge unopened overnight. When you are ready, chill a bowl and your beaters. Then open the bottom of the can, pour off the milk, and put the cream part in your chilled bowl. Whisk with an electric mixer (you might be able to do this by hand but it would need an awful lot of elbow grease). Whisk until it becomes thick like regular cream – around 5 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and icing sugar, and whisk a little longer to incorporate. If you have any xanthan gum, it will help the stability but it’s not necessary.
- Chop the top and the bottom off of the watermelon, then remove the green outside by cutting the pieces off lengthwise. It doesn’t even need to be perfect, you can cover up the imperfections with the frosting. Once you are happy with the shape, pat the watermelon down to remove the extra juice.
- Take your whipped coconut cream and cover the watermelon in a smooth layer. I then took a piping bag and used it to make some cuter decorations but it’s really up to you. Finish up with some fresh fruit and all the decorations your heart desires.
Watermelon, Mint, & Feta Salad
The saltiness of the feta works perfectly with sweet watermelon and fresh mint. Always a hit at any party, this is the salad of summer.
Ingredients
- 1/4 of a watermelon
- 100g of feta
- 1/2 a cucumber
- 10 cherry tomatoes
- 10-15 mint leaves.
Directions
- Chop your watermelon into chunks, halve the cherry tomatoes and dice the cucumber. Then put it all into a large bowl.
- Tear the mint leaves into pieces and add to the salad.
- Finally, crumble in the feta cheese and mix everything together. Voilà: the most refreshing salad you are ever likely to eat.
Watermelon Lemonade
There’s nothing better than a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day, but have you tried watermelon lemonade? The sweet goodness pairs well with the sour lemons. Throw some mint leaves in the mix, and you have a party in your mouth where everyone’s invited.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of sugar
- 2 cups of water
- 7 lemons juiced and zested
- 1 lemon cut up for decoration
- A few sprigs of mint
Directions
- Zest and juice 7 of the lemons into separate bowls. In a saucepan put the sugar, water, and zest and bring to a boil on low heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. As soon as it starts to boil you can turn off the heat.
- Mix the lemon juice with the syrup and allow it to cool. You can now strain the syrup if you want to remove the zest and store it in a bottle in a fridge. It should keep for at least a week.
- To make the lemonade, mix the syrup with water in equal ratios, although feel free to add more water if it’s too strong for you. Serve over ice and garnish with slices of lemon and sprigs of mint.
- For a twist, you can make this fruity strawberry and watermelon version, which you can add rum or vodka to after a hard day at work. Blend a handful of strawberries and a wedge of watermelon with a shot of lemonade syrup and a shot of sparkling water (or vodka). Then serve over ice and enjoy. Voilà, Fat Girl’s traditional lemonade.
Check out our “The passion of watermelon” article to know more about the history of watermelon in Korea.
Want a nice watermelon punch to drink while basking near the pool, check this Beyond Kimchee recipe!