616757 Sat May 02 18:54:20 -0700 2009 37 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 4649060 my neighbor just gave me a huge watermellon, and I was pondering other preparations other than just eating it as is. Any suggestions? Sat May 02 18:54:20 -0700 2009 226497 chuckaukau 1 4649081 Make some watermelon agua fresca? Sat May 02 19:06:49 -0700 2009 4649060 124045 huaqiao 2 4650923 Simply squeeze a fresh lemon over the sliced watermelon -- that's truly all it needs. Delicious! Sun May 03 16:46:58 -0700 2009 4649081 15254 ptrichmondmike 1 4649137 Infuse it with Vodka. Make a salad with baby greens, a balsamic viniagrette and Blue-Brie cheese. Sat May 02 19:42:22 -0700 2009 4649060 225234 KiltedCook 2 4653940 What's Blue-Brie? Sounds fascinating - and delightful! Mon May 04 15:40:49 -0700 2009 4649137 220968 mattwarner 3 4654103 Blue Brie is pretty much exactly what it sounds like - an amalgamation of the two. it's a creamy, ripened blue-veined cheese with the bloomy white rind typical of cheeses like Brie or Camembert...and yes, it's delicious! ;) Mon May 04 16:55:52 -0700 2009 4653940 103920 goodhealthgourmet 4 4654666 Ever had cambozola (i.e. camembert/gorgonzola)? That stuff is unbelievable. Mon May 04 20:35:32 -0700 2009 4654103 57371 operagirl 5 4657427 *love* cambozola. i'm having a Homer Simpson moment. mmmm...cheese. Tue May 05 17:38:00 -0700 2009 4654666 103920 goodhealthgourmet 1 4649140 I've had a wonderful salad with watermelon, feta and red onion. I've seen recipes that have a dressing added or other variations, but I think the one I had was just the three ingredients. Sat May 02 19:43:43 -0700 2009 4649060 198984 Jeri L 2 4649769 YES! I've had this also and it was so refreshing. Something about the watermelon, feta, red onion and vinaigrette combo (duh, I know). The salad I had served it tossed in a champagne vinaigrette but I think any light vinaigrette would work. Mmmmm, now I'm craving this. Sun May 03 07:14:03 -0700 2009 4649140 71241 lynnlato 3 4649775 That's one of my favorite salads - make it all summer (watermelon season). Use a light white balsamic dressing, so good. Sun May 03 07:17:54 -0700 2009 4649769 253735 bayoucook 2 4650424 This is my favorite thing to eat when it's hot in the summer, particularly when watching Wimbledon. Only problem is that we haven't had a hot summer in two years. The dressing created by the combination of red onion soaked in lime juice is sublime with the watermelon cubes. I really hope we get a hot summer this year. Here's the recipe I use: http://www.nigella.com/recipe/recipe_detail.aspx?rid=288. Sun May 03 12:46:38 -0700 2009 4649140 14139 Kagey 2 4656152 With crunchy hunks of fried pork you can make a carnivore's salad that works the same salty and sweet magic. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/16/dining/161crex.html With cucumbers and cayenne, you can also make a mean margarita. Tue May 05 10:59:26 -0700 2009 4649140 68363 JungMann 2 4665556 I was just about to recommend this same combo. Very tasty and very fresh summer salad. Fri May 08 07:12:35 -0700 2009 4649140 67742 HungryRubia 1 4649212 my first thoughts when i saw your post were sorbet, margaritas, or watermelon "gazpacho." i've always been a fan of watermelon with cheese. cut into chunks and toss with good, aged balsamic, torn fresh mint or basil, fresh cracked black pepper, feta, bleu or goat cheese, and halved grape or cherry tomatoes if you can get good ripe ones. alternatively, you could just cut some thick slices, marinate for a few minutes in your favorite vinaigrette, and grill with slices of Halloumi. FYI, there's actually a National Watermelon Promotion Board! of course their website has recipes... http://www.watermelon.org/watermelon_recipe.asp Sat May 02 20:22:50 -0700 2009 4649060 103920 goodhealthgourmet 1 4649417 I cube the watermelon, add one can of thawed limeade concentrate and chopped mint. If there are leftovers, blend it up as an aqua fresca the next day. Sat May 02 22:54:07 -0700 2009 4649060 12123 Cathy 1 4649450 At a restaurant I worked at, they once served grilled watermelon (only very lightly grilled to put some marks on it and warm it a bit, not cooked through in the slightest) with a sesame/soy vinaigrette. Garnished with sesame seeds and red chili flakes (and I think chives), it was actually quite delicious. Sat May 02 23:28:51 -0700 2009 4649060 57371 operagirl 2 4650844 I second the grilling suggestion. Perhaps incorporate mint somehow as well? In a sauce or dressing at the end? WON http://whatsonmyplate.wordpress.com Sun May 03 16:13:58 -0700 2009 4649450 92591 wontonfm 1 4649464 i do a simple salad with watermelon, tomato, red onion, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and basil. Sat May 02 23:47:31 -0700 2009 4649060 15572 Emme 1 4649748 In the summertime, I make a salad of cubed watermelon and sliced kiwi fruit served icy cold. The eye appeal is seductive and I do love the flavor combination. Top with a little chiffonade of mint. Sun May 03 07:00:29 -0700 2009 4649060 112096 Caroline1 1 4649778 Make a few dacquiris and margaraitas! Sun May 03 07:19:25 -0700 2009 4649060 253735 bayoucook 1 4649824 I had the most amazing salad at a neighborhood restaurant -- watermelon, goat cheese, mint, and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I never would have thought those ingredients could co-exist in the same dish, but together they made for a glorious salad. Sun May 03 07:40:32 -0700 2009 4649060 22569 amyleechen 1 4653989 Last time I had watermelon - and it was great - was under a tree in Tajikistan looking across the river at Afganhistan. A beautiful setting. Along with the watermelon were grapes, pomegranites, cucumbers, figs, apricots, tomatoes, flat breads, mutton stew, arak, and more. Mon May 04 15:56:48 -0700 2009 4649060 36661 Sam Fujisaka 2 4654036 Sandia y chaya, tambien. Mon May 04 16:18:01 -0700 2009 4653989 57170 Veggo 1 4656905 I have a watermelon salad sometime with fresh mint, feta cheese, paper thin slices of red onion and drizzle with lime juice and honey. Tue May 05 14:16:53 -0700 2009 4649060 208197 Lemoncaper 1 4659034 i love it simply sprinkled with salt! watermelon is one of the very nicest things about summer -- along with good garden tomatoes. but here's a thread i started a while back with a ton of delicious watermelon combination ideas! http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/539218 Wed May 06 09:08:51 -0700 2009 4649060 105717 alkapal 2 4672039 I love it with salt, too! Sun May 10 20:24:48 -0700 2009 4659034 11387 nosey 1 4659088 I like to sprinkle cayenne pepper on watermelon. I once went on a watermelon fast for 3 weeks. Still tasted good. Wed May 06 09:20:42 -0700 2009 4649060 28638 phantomdoc 1 4664912 Mint and feta cheese! Yum! Thu May 07 22:11:55 -0700 2009 4649060 282981 foodlover23 1 4665205 cut into cubes or balls, sprinkle with salt, chipotle powder and toss in hazelnut oil. add arugula, chives or a buttery lettuce. Fri May 08 05:10:34 -0700 2009 4649060 255943 brook1trout 1 4665486 Avocado. Yum. Fri May 08 06:51:45 -0700 2009 4649060 235489 ktb615 1 4665543 A very unusual way I had it while traveling through Mexico: Watermelon juice with a bit of fresh lime squeezed into it. The rick is to put enough lime to alter the flavor, but no so much as to make it too "lime-ny". It alters the watermelon's natural flavor to something otherworldly and very subtle ~ great for hot summer days! Fri May 08 07:09:30 -0700 2009 4649060 256465 signoreconti 2 4665772 Try watermelon balls (or chunks) plus a little lime juice, tequila, and shredded mint. Maybe a sprinkle of salt. Fri May 08 08:06:37 -0700 2009 4665543 106056 firecooked 1 4665608 I've made this Prosciutto Wrapped Watermelon and Brie recipe and it was a hit: http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/side-dishes/article/550/19104 The next one on my list is this tapas recipe of watermelon, jamon serrano, olive oil, queso fresco, mint and red chile flakes: http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/special/2004/farol/jamon.html Fri May 08 07:28:43 -0700 2009 4649060 18385 CDouglas 1 4671380 We had an amuse bouche at a local resto with watermelon rounds topped with fennel salt. It was a grand combination of flavours, the liquorice with the watermelon. We have made it ourselves many times since. You could serve it as such (fennel with a medium grind of salt, to taste) or, I suspect, with any licorice flavoured liquor. Sun May 10 15:08:37 -0700 2009 4649060 74367 foodiesnorth 2 4674172 how pretty to do a starter with a watermelon "cut-out" (aces, spades, clubs, hearts & rounds for the rest of us....) .with a little shaved fennel, some salt, and a sprinkle of a microgreens (a little mint, too) salad that's been zapped with a little lime-y vinaigrette. Mon May 11 13:34:43 -0700 2009 4671380 105717 alkapal 1 4672040 Watermelon gazpacho is really yummy! Sun May 10 20:25:42 -0700 2009 4649060 11387 nosey 1 4674331 One of the most unusual and delicious ways I've enjoyed watermelon is topped with a ricotta ice cream and chocolate shavings. Here's the recipe: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Watermelon-Sundae-1222206 Phoo-D http://www.phoo-d.com Mon May 11 14:13:33 -0700 2009 4649060 226727 Phoo_d