27.08.2023

Don’t Throw Away Watermelon Peel: 3 Brilliant Uses!

By liliaturcin5

You probably consider watermelon rind waste and it always ends up in the trash. However, it turns out that these pieces of the star fruit of the summer not only contain health benefits, but they also allow them to be cooked in different ways. So what exactly to do with watermelon skin? Decryption.

1 – GRILLED WATERMELON SKIN

This is a tasty snack. Cut the watermelon into strips, including the green skin, and heat it for two minutes in the microwave. Add a little mustard oil, salt, turmeric and chili powder or spices of your choice and store the peels in the refrigerator for one to two days.

Spread the seasoned strips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake them in the oven for about 15 minutes at a temperature of about 200°C. Then turn them over and let them grill again for 8 minutes in the oven. You can use the grilled watermelon skin as a crispy topping or to garnish a salad.

2 – WATERMELON PEEL IN JAM FOR GOURMETS

Like grandmother, do not hesitate to take advantage of the beautiful season to embark on original jam recipes to slip into pastries or spread on pancakes. In this regard, if melon jam already offers amazing aromas, wait a bit to discover that of watermelon peel, as delicious as it is gourmet!

Ingredients 

  • 1 kg strips of watermelon rind
  • 750 g of sugar
  • 1 lemon juice

Preparation

Throw your ingredients into a jam pot or saucepan. Then, cook everything over medium heat, up to 105°C, for about twenty minutes. Help yourself here with a sugar thermometer. After this cooking time, put a drop of jam on a plate to make sure it sets. This will show you that your jam is ready to slip into its jar. Close the jar tightly and turn it upside down until it cools.

3 – GASPACHO WITH WATERMELON PEEL AND CUCUMBER SKIN

Ingredients

  • 250g watermelon rind
  • 250g cucumber rind
  • 100g cherry tomatoes
  • A few pieces of stale bread
  • 50g pine nuts
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 onion
  • A little chopped parsley
  • 30ml white vinegar
  • 1 glass of water
  • Salt and pepper

Preparation

  1. Start by chopping the garlic and onion. Cut the watermelon rind into cubes, previously blanched and softened.
  2. Dip the stale bread in the white vinegar, then add all the other ingredients except the pine nuts and a few spoonfuls of watermelon rind.
  3. Mix everything vigorously and pour into a bowl and season with salt and pepper then add the pine nuts and the rest of the cubes of watermelon rind. Dec