From the grill to gazpacho: 15 recipes with watermelon that you (maybe) didn’t know

With the arrival of summer, the watermelon becomes the undisputed king of Italian tables. Fresh, thirst-quenching and rich in vitamins, this summer fruit is the perfect ingredient to create light and tasty dishes that will conquer all palates. In this article, we will present you ten creative and delicious recipes featuring watermelon.

From fresh salads to sweet snacks, through refreshing drinks and sorbets, you will discover how to use this fruit in new and surprising ways. Get ready to delight your guests with dishes that best celebrate the summer season

“Tuna” with watermelon: fake sashimi

If you love the taste of tuna sashimi but are not enthusiastic about the idea of ​​eating raw fish, you can’t miss the innovative recipe that is becoming popular on TikTok. User @ligier found the perfect solution: turning watermelon into fake tuna. This option is not only cheaper and easier to prepare, but also faster and slightly safer.

This is a truly original recipe, which allows you to create a delicious fake tuna sashimi with just a few simple steps. Just a marinade and an hour of baking to obtain a surprising result. The taste and appearance of processed watermelon will leave you speechless, to the point that you won’t even be able to recognize the fruit. Here you will find the recipe to follow step by step.

Panzanella with watermelon

Here is an alternative version of the classic panzanella that includes watermelon among its main ingredients. The result is a balanced and light dish, with a particularly pleasant combination of flavours. This recipe not only adds a refreshing note to tradition, but also allows you to reuse stale bread in a creative and delicious way. Here you can find the recipe with doses and preparation times.

Watermelon, cucumber and feta salad

To make a summer salad with cucumbers, watermelon and feta, start by dicing the cucumbers and watermelon. Add the crumbled feta. Season everything with extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add some chopped fresh mint leaves for a touch of freshness. Mix delicately and serve immediately to best enjoy the contrasts of flavors and textures. This salad is ideal as a light side dish or as a main course on hot summer days.

Watermelon gazpacho

Go to the market or your garden to collect the ingredients needed to prepare watermelon gazpacho. You will need a seedless watermelon, as it will be pureed. Add ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, red onion and garlic. For a touch of freshness, use fresh mint, adding as much as you like and perhaps chopping some as a final garnish.

Don’t forget the olive oil and red wine vinegar, along with cumin, salt and pepper for seasoning.

To thicken the soup, use a slice of bread (any type is fine), removing the crust and soaking it in the soup. Finally, garnish with fresh chopped mint, a drizzle of olive oil and, if desired, with the leftover gazpacho ingredients.

To make the gazpacho, blend all the ingredients together in a blender or food processor for about a minute, until you get the desired consistency. Transfer the soup to a sealed container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until completely chilled. Serve the soup very cold, garnished with your favorite condiments.

Grilled watermelon

Preheat the grill to medium heat. Brush both sides of each watermelon triangle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Add a drizzle of honey to each triangle and place them on the grill, cooking for about 2 minutes per side, until lightly grilled.

A tasty idea for serving the watermelon grilled could be the preparation of a caprese: place the two triangles of watermelon on each plate. Garnish with chopped tomatoes, mozzarella and basil leaves. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Serve immediately.

Watermelon juice

Watermelon juice is a refreshing and naturally sweet summer drink, perfect for quenching your thirst on hot days. Easy to prepare, this juice takes advantage of the juiciness and unique flavor of watermelon to offer a light and hydrating drink. Ideal to serve chilled, it is an excellent choice to add a touch of freshness to your summer days. Here is the recipe without extractor.

Homemade watermelon popsicles with no added sugar

Watermelon popsicles, these fresh and visually appealing popsicles are the ideal snack to face the hottest days of summer.

To make them, we combined the sweet and juicy watermelon pulp with kiwis, thus reproducing the appearance of summer watermelon. By adding a layer of water and lemon juice, you can also simulate the white part of the peel.

To make these popsicles, you will need a food processor, yogurt cups and wooden sticks. Here is the recipe.

Sugar-free watermelon jam

Sugar-free watermelon jam is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional jams. Perfect for those who want to reduce their sugar intake without sacrificing taste, this jam exploits the natural sweetness of watermelon to offer a light and fresh preserve. Ideal for spreading on bread or to use as a topping for yogurt and desserts, it is an excellent solution to make the most of this summer fruit.

Jam with watermelon peels

Few people know that watermelon peel is edible and can be used to prepare a delicious and healthy jam. The preparation is very simple and allows you to recycle a part of the fruit that is often considered waste. Here you will find the recipe to follow step by step.

Banana and watermelon smoothie

To prepare a delicious banana and watermelon smoothie, start by cutting a ripe banana and 200 grams of watermelon into pieces. Place the banana and watermelon pieces in a blender, adding 150 milliliters of milk (you can use regular milk, almond milk or whatever you prefer) and a spoonful of honey or agave syrup for an extra touch of sweetness. Blend everything until you obtain a smooth and homogeneous consistency. If you prefer a thinner consistency, add a little more water or milk. Pour the smoothie into glasses and, if you wish, add a few ice cubes to make it even more refreshing. Serve immediately and enjoy the fresh, fruity flavor of your smoothie.

Vegetable watermelon ceviche

Fresh, colorful and very easy to prepare, vegetable watermelon ceviche is an original summer appetizer that plays with the contrast between the sweetness of the watermelon and the acidity of the lime. Cut the watermelon into cubes and season it with lime juice, finely sliced ​​red onion, fresh coriander and, if desired, a few slices of chilli pepper.

Leave everything to marinate in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes, so that the flavors blend well. You can complete with a pinch of salt, pepper and a few cubes of avocado. Serve it very cold, alone or accompanied by croutons.

Watermelon and avocado tartare

The watermelon and avocado tartare is a fresh and spectacular dish, perfect as an appetizer or for a light lunch. Cut the watermelon pulp and avocado into small, regular cubes, then season them delicately with lime or lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.

To add a crunchy note you can add sesame seeds, chopped pistachios or pumpkin seeds. Arrange the tartare on plates using a pastry cutter and complete with a few leaves of mint or fresh basil. Serve immediately, to prevent the avocado from oxidizing and losing its bright color.

Bruschetta with watermelon and feta

Bruschettas with watermelon and feta are a simple but surprising idea for a summer aperitif. Toast some slices of bread until they are crispy, then distribute the watermelon cubes and crumbled feta on the surface.

Add a few basil or mint leaves, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and freshly ground pepper. If you love sweet and sour flavours, complete with a few drops of balsamic vinegar or a light balsamic glaze. The contrast between the crunchy bread, the juicy watermelon and the flavor of the feta makes these bruschettas particularly delicious.

Pickled watermelon peels

Don’t throw away the white part of the watermelon peel: it can be transformed into a really tasty anti-waste side dish. After completely eliminating the external green part, cut the white part of the peel into sticks or cubes.

Bring a mixture of water and vinegar to the boil with a pinch of salt and, to taste, sugar, peppercorns, mustard seeds, ginger or other spices. Add the peels and let them cook for a few minutes, until they begin to soften while remaining slightly crunchy.

Transfer them while still hot to a clean container together with the marinating liquid and let them cool. Store them in the refrigerator and consume them as an accompaniment to salads, sandwiches, cheeses or cold dishes.

Watermelon granita

Watermelon granita is one of the simplest and most refreshing ways to enjoy this fruit on the hottest days. Blend the watermelon pulp without the seeds together with a little lemon or lime juice. If the fruit is already very sweet, it will not be necessary to add sugar.

Pour the mixture into a low, wide container and place it in the freezer. Every 30-40 minutes, stir vigorously with a fork, breaking the ice crystals. Repeat the operation until you obtain the typical grainy consistency.

Serve the granita very cold, possibly garnished with fresh mint leaves. For an even more fragrant version you can add a few basil leaves or a pinch of fresh ginger to the mixture.