How to rescue watermelon

August 15, 2024 1:04 AM

A pal just brought me a huge chunk of watermelon because he knows I love it. This watermelon, while ripe, is rather tasteless. Normally, I just eat it. In this case, I’m thinking perhaps I should make something with it because it’s so blah. Is there anyway I can rescue this watermelon?
posted by Bella Donna to Food & Drink (15 answers total)

Chili, lime, salt (or Tajin if you have that available, same thing, just prepackaged). Sprinkle it on the watermelon, eat, wonder why you've never done that before.

Watermelon cucumber lime agua fresca. Watermelon cantaloupe lime agua fresca. Chamoy rim! Make cocktails! Watermelon mint mojito! Watermelon tonic water fizz with cucumber or mint! Watermelon, tequila, and strawberry!

Watermelon, ice, greek yogurt, mint, in a blender to make a slushie/smoothie. Serve with a lime.

Watermelon salad! Watermelon, spinach, salted pumpkin seeds, cucumber, feta or queso fresco, sweet vinaigrette of your choice or a chamoy drizzle. Add cold chicken, salmon, or shrimp if you want. SO GOOD.
posted by erst at 1:18 AM on August 15 [10 favorites]

Watermelon 'tuna'
posted by terretu at 1:47 AM on August 15 [1 favorite]

Cool it, cut off rind, cut into chunks and either with an immersion blender or in a jug blender turn into slush. Add either mint or lemon or both. Or ice cubes, but i prefer without because they dilute the taste.
posted by 15L06 at 2:37 AM on August 15 [6 favorites]

What 15L06 said ^^ but add vodka.

Cut watermelon into chunks, freeze put in blender add a bit of lemon or lime juice, vodka and blend into slushi. Serve right away.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 3:14 AM on August 15 [3 favorites]

Dried cranberries and/or pomegranate syrup are also really tasty options for chilled past season watermelon.
posted by effluvia at 3:16 AM on August 15 [2 favorites]

A sprinkle of Taijin will perk the flavor right up
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:26 AM on August 15 [2 favorites]

Watermelon gazpacho! There are lots of recipes out there but I love the Beryl Shereshewski one that has cucumber, bell pepper, cantaloupe jalapeños and cilantro.
posted by genmonster at 3:48 AM on August 15 [2 favorites]

If it's truely unusable, watermelon makes great compost.
posted by freethefeet at 4:05 AM on August 15 [3 favorites]

Put bite size chunks of it in a glass of limeade, add some muddled mint and refresh yourself!
posted by childofTethys at 4:17 AM on August 15 [1 favorite]

I had some cantaloupe recently that was similar and just a light sprinkle of salt went a long way toward helping it. But my favorite way to amp up watermelon is with a simple salad - watermelon chunks, cucumber (ribbons or thin slices), chopped mint or basil, crumbled feta, and if I'm feeling ambitious, a light dressing of lime juice and olive oil. But often I find when I mix everything together well, dressing isn't really necessary.
posted by EvaDestruction at 5:14 AM on August 15 [3 favorites]

Where we live, we've had a very rainy year this year. So I've heard that makes melons taste more bland and watery than usual.
posted by ovvl at 5:44 AM on August 15 [2 favorites]

Watermelon cocktails are so good!
posted by limeonaire at 5:46 AM on August 15

Try it with some cubed feta cheese and wonder why you've never done that before.
posted by flabdablet at 6:30 AM on August 15 [3 favorites]

Feed it to your backyard animals, squirrels love watermelon!
posted by a humble nudibranch at 7:13 AM on August 15 [2 favorites]

Cut into chunks, pour over rosewater to taste, roughly chop some unsalted pistachios and add those. Stir to mix, let it sit and marinate in the fridge overnight or longer. It's like fruity Turkish delight.
posted by Athanassiel at 1:53 PM on August 15 [2 favorites]