How many times have you gone to the store to buy a watermelon, (thumping on it, patting it, listening, looking like a fool) get home, cut it open, as it’s just kind of there? It has no flavor, might be pinkish, and to top it off, mushy! I absolutely hate it!
Chef’s Tip
✅ Find a watermelon that is a uniform size (oval or round) either is ok. You just want to watch out for irregular bumps.
✅ You want to find the melon that is heavy for its size. This usually means it will be sweeter and will have more water content.
✅ Look for an orange creamy field spot. The darker yellow field spot usually means it was on the vine longer and is full of flavor.
✅ If the field spot is white that’s a sign that the melon is not quite ripe.
✅ Larger “webbing” or “sugar spots” means that the melon is seeping out sugar and is usually the sign of sweet melon. Also a sign that bees have been on it.
✅ Look for dark & dull melons which is a sign that the melon is ripe. When the melon is shiny it is underripe.
Did you know? 🌍
Egyptians had watermelons 5,000 years ago and then shared them with the rest of civilization in the 10th century.
In the US watermelon Season varies by State 🇺🇸
✔️ Texas: June to August. over 42,000 acres are planted annually making it the states largest horticultural crop.
✔️ Georgia: End of July and ends at the beginning of September with most being grown in Cordele, GA around 40,000 acres planted.
✔️ California: includes all of June, July, August, and September. California produces approximately 330,000 tons (302 T) of watermelon per year.
Chef Recipe: Watermelon Pico de Gallo 🥗
• 4 cups medium diced seedless watermelon
• ¾ cup small diced red onion
• ⅔ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• ½ cup chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1–2 serrano pepper (s), seeded and finely diced (add more/less to taste)
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt or 1 teaspoon Tajin
• zest and juice of 1 lime
- Place diced red onion in a bowl of ice water and let sit for at least five minutes while you chop all the other ingredients. Set aside.
- Strain red onion and gently toss all ingredients together in a large bowl until combined. Serve immediately.
*If serving later in the day, omit salt/Tajin until right before serving. Salt will cause water to leach out.
Serve with
🐟 fish tacos,
🍗 grilled chicken,
🍖 grilled pork,
or 🍤 grilled shrimp.
Bon Appétit!
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