New dish: Turn watermelon rind into a delicious, economical and nutritious dish
After eating, do not rush to throw away the watermelon rind. With just a few simple recipes, the seemingly wasteful watermelon rind can be transformed into new delicious and nutritious dishes.
Every summer, watermelon is always a "national cooling" fruit. However, after enjoying the sweet and cool flesh, the rind is often thrown away, causing a lot of waste. Few people know that about 40% of the weight of a watermelon is the rind, which contains a lot of fiber, vitamins and minerals. If processed skillfully, watermelon rind can become delicious, unique dishes that are both nutritious and help reduce food waste.
1. Sweet and sour watermelon rind
Pickling is a popular way to turn watermelon rind into a refreshing appetizer. After peeling off the green skin, the pulp is chopped and simmered with water, ginger, sugar, salt and apple cider vinegar. When left to marinate overnight, you will have a crispy, sweet and sour watermelon rind.
2. Watermelon rind jam and candy
Candied watermelon rinds turn into sweet, translucent gummies. After boiling, the rinds are cooked in syrup until golden brown, then dried. You can sprinkle some white sugar on top for added sweetness and an appealing coating.
If you are bored with the usual jams, try watermelon rind jam. After chopping the rind, mix it with sugar and spices and marinate overnight. The next day, cook it until the rind is transparent, then store it in a jar. This jam is soft enough to spread on bread and has a unique flavor.
3. Stir-fried watermelon rind
Watermelon rind has a light, cucumber-like flavor, and is great for stir-frying with meat, eggs, or other vegetables. Just slice it into strips, add garlic, onions, and your favorite spices, and you've got yourself a delicious stir-fry that goes well with rice.
4. Watermelon rind salad
To make the salad, the watermelon rind needs to be steamed until soft before being mixed with herbs, chili, lemon juice, ginger, green onions and olive oil. The watermelon rind salad has a harmonious sour and spicy taste, and is even more delicious when marinated for about 30 minutes before serving.
5. Grilled watermelon rind with cheese
Simply slice the melon rind, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and grill until golden brown. When ready to eat, mix in cheese and vinegar for a rich flavor. If you’re worried about burning, wrap in foil before grilling.
From sweet and sour dishes, candy, jam to stir-fry, salad or grilled cheese, watermelon rind can be transformed into surprisingly delicious dishes. Not only does it help save and make the most of the watermelon, but it also contributes to enriching family meals.
