Ah, watermelon - that delicious staple when you’re barbecuing at home! Cool and thirst quenching, it truly is a refreshing delight on a hot summer day. Have you ever wondered, though, if there are more interesting ways to eat it? We don’t want to gild the lily, but we do recommend giving some of these intriguing options a try next time you’re barbecuing at home.
- This Cilantro-Lime Grilled Watermelon recipe from the Stay At Home Chef is a tasty way to use your grill. Now, if you’re barbecuing at home with Tony Roma’s pre-cooked ribs, you know they don’t require grilling. If you’re looking for an excuse to fire up your lovely new gas grill, give this recipe a shot - we promise you won’t regret it. Simply slice watermelon about 2 inches thick, brush each side with a little olive oil and lime juice, season with salt, and grill on high heat for 3-5 minutes per side. Once it’s off the grill, season it with more lime juice, and sprinkle with cilantro, along with extra salt, to taste.
- If you like things a little sweet and spicy, Honey Grilled Spicy Watermelon from the Herbs and Oils blog may be the perfect choice for you. While preheating your grill to high, whisk together 1 tablespoon of lime zest, ¼ cup lime juice, and ⅛ cup of honey, 2 teaspoons of garlic chili sauce and a pinch of salt. Cut a medium watermelon into 1-inch thick wedges, drizzle with ⅛ cup of honey lightly on each side, and grill in batches until just browned, about 2 minutes per side. Plate the watermelon and drizzle with lime dressing, garnishing with cilantro.
- Summer is the perfect time to sip a Grilled Watermelon Mint Julep, created from A Cozy Kitchen. To make 4 delicious cocktails, in a small saucepan over medium low heat, combine a handful of mint with ½ cup white sugar and ½ cup filtered water, cooking until the mixture reaches a simmer. Turn the heat off, allow the mixture to steep for an hour, then strain and discard the mint leaves, transferring the rest of the mixture to a small bowl and setting aside. Over a hot flame, grill ½ pound of watermelon wedges for about 1 minute on each side, until they achieve a dark red color with visible grill marks. Allow them to cool enough for you to handle them, and then chop the wedges into cubes, discarding the rind before transferring the cubes to a food processor, where you’ll pulse them until pureed, about 10 seconds. Run this puree through a strainer, and discard the pulp. Pack 4 cocktail glasses with crushed ice, and divide 6 fluid ounces of bourbon between them. Add to each glass a tablespoon or two of mint syrup, then top with watermelon puree and garnish with mint leaves.
- BuzzFeed has a great idea for how to make an easy and delicious Watermelon Salad. Simply slice cucumbers, cube watermelon and combine the two, chilling in the refrigerator while you mix together lime juice and hoisin sauce for a dressing. Drain the watermelon and cucumber, toss with the dressing and top with chopped peanuts, chopped mint and cilantro.
- For a twist on comfort food, try Watermelon Grilled Cheese Bites from Brit & Co. Slice watermelon and halloumi cheese into small squares, all the same size and width, with the width being about 1 cm. Using grill racks coated with olive oil, grill the watermelon for about 2 minutes, grill the cheese for about 1 minute on each side, then assemble small sandwiches, with the watermelon as bread and cheese topped with arugula for the filling.
Any time you’re barbecuing at home, Tony Roma’s pre-cooked ribs are the perfect choice for a main dish. Easy and convenient, they free your time and energy, so you can focus on wowing your guests with adventurous side dishes and desserts. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for more barbecue tips!
