That’s right, I bet you thought watermelon was just made to eat as a messy summer snack. Here’s three awesome watermelon recipes to make your summer even sweeter!
So to get us ready for cooking magic, I’ve a little music to get us in the mood. Remember this one? (If you can do the dance, give yourself two points.)
Now on with the show…here’s the clip from the segment with Chef Jackson and myself on Good Morning Texas showing a lot more than just watermelon recipes.
The most important step in cooking with watermelon is finding the right one. There’s nothing worse than a tough, underrippened or overrippened watermelon. So there’s a quick test.
1. It’s pretty. If it looks funny, it probably didn’t grow the right way and may have areas that aren’t ripe.
2. Its weight. A good watermelon is going to be full with water so therefore it should be heavy. If it’s not, then put it back.
2. Its dark spot. If there isn’t a nice dark brown spot where the watermelon rested on the ground, then you don’t want this watermelon.
3. Thump it. If it makes a thud or sound thick, then you don’t want it. You want it to sound hollow.
Now that we found the perfect watermelon, let’s get to it!
Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Prosciutto
Ingredients
- 3 (1/2-inch-thick) watermelon rounds, quartered
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
- 4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
- Fresh basil leaves
- 2 teaspoons bottled balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat grill to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat.
- Brush both sides of each watermelon quarter with olive oil, and season with desired amount of salt and pepper. Cut prosciutto into thin strips.
- Grill watermelon quarters, without grill lid, 1 minute on each side or until grill marks appear.
- Transfer watermelon to a serving plate; top with blue cheese, prosciutto strips, and fresh basil.
- Drizzle watermelon with balsamic glaze.
- Serve immediately.
Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Proscuitto
Of course, there’s a lot more to do than just eat watermelon and apparently crawl either. That’s right, there are festivals and events you can attend this weekend and next to pay homage to the humble, all-American watermelon.
Donald Johnson Seedless Watermelon Festival in Knox City
The festival began 23 years ago as a point of communal pride. By official decree of the Texas Legislature, Knox City was the Seedless Watermelon Capital of Texas, thanks to the crops of the late Donald Johnson.
Parade, Pageant, Arts & Crafts and more!
The Melon Dash 5K & Fun Run
McKinney, Texas
Benefits North Texas Cat Rescue
Runners get all kinds of refreshments like watermelon, go go squeeze and more!
http://www.runproject.org/race/melon-dash-5k
What’s your favorite way to enjoy watermelon?
That watermelon drink looks so refreshing…Lawd, on a 100+ degree like today! Gonna be thumping and turning over watermelons all weekend long now!
I’ve been drinking the agua fresca all day long!