refreshing-watermelon-linkA fruit synonymous with summer, watermelon is sweet, versatile and super delicious. Packed with antioxidants vitamin C, beta-carotene and lycopene, watermelon can boast some serious nutritional value too! Juicy and refreshing, this fruit is a natural thirst quencher.

Beat the heat and take advantage of summer’s quintessential fruit with a few of these tasty watermelon treats.

Super Cool & Simple Watermelon Recipes

You’ll need a watermelon purée as an ingredient in a few of these recipes. It’s easy. Here’s how:

WATERMELON PURÉE: To make the watermelon purée, remove seeds from fresh watermelon and cut into large chunks. Place in a blender and process until smooth and well puréed. Using a strainer or sieve, pour and press the blended mixture through to remove the seeds and any extra pulp.

Refreshing Watermelon-chardonnayWatermelon Wine Sparkler
A deliciously crisp and refreshing cocktail.

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients
– 1/3 glass watermelon purée, chilled (see WATERMELON PURÉE ABOVE)
– 1/3 glass crisp, dry white wine, chilled
– 1/3 glass sparkling water, chilled
– 1 watermelon slice, for garnish

Directions
1. Combine ingredients in a wine glass, add garnish and serve immediately.

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Refreshing Watermelon-smoothieWatermelon Smoothies
A simple smoothie made with coconut water, strawberries and watermelon.

Ingredients
– 2 cups cubed fresh watermelon
– 5 strawberries
– ½ cup coconut water

Directions
1. Add all ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth.

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Refreshing Watermelon-iceWatermelon Ice
A refreshing sorbet with a soft serve texture.

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients
– 1¼ cups sugar
– 1¼ cups water
– 6-7 cups fresh seedless watermelon chunks
– 3 tbsp. fresh lime juice

Directions
1. Make a simple syrup by bringing sugar and water to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
2. In a blender, add watermelon chunks and the lime juice. Blend the mixture until the watermelon is completely puréed.
3. Add the simple syrup to the watermelon mixture and refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. Pour the watermelon mixture into an ice cream maker. Mix for approximately 25-35 minutes, or until thickened. The sorbet will have soft serve texture. Serve immediately, or store in freezer in an airtight container until firm, about 2 hours.

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Refreshing Watermelon-mocktailWatermelon Mocktail
A crowd-pleasing summer cooler. Make a batch for your next party and watch it disappear!

Makes: 36 servings

Ingredients
– 1 cup watermelon purée
– 1 teaspoon grenadine syrup
– Juice from 1 fresh orange
– 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
–  2 litres of ginger ale
– 2 cups ice cubes

Directions
Blend ingredients in a large beverage container and chill. Serve over ice. Rim the glass, if desired, and serve.

RIMMING THE GLASS
1. Pour your sugar, salt or whatever you’re rimming glasses with on a saucer or plate.
2. If using salt use a coarse sea salt or kosher salt. For sugar, use plain white granulated sugar or brown sugar. Turbinado sugar is a light brown cane sugar similar to demerara but with larger crystals. The coarser crystals look very pretty on the rim of the glass.
3. Moisten the rim of the glass with either a wedge of lime, lemon or orange if the cocktail is fruity.  For other cocktails use either simple syrup or a bit of complementing liqueur.

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Refreshing Watermelon-popsiclesWatermelon Popsicles
The ultimate summer cooler! Make ahead and store in the freezer to enjoy anytime. Switch it up by substituting orange or lemon, if desired, in place of lime.

Ingredients
– 4 cups watermelon, diced into chunks
– 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
– 1 teaspoon lime zest
– 1/4 cup agave syrup
– wooden sticks (if you don’t have popsicle molds)

Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
2. Pour mixture into ice pop molds. If you don’t have molds, fill small paper cups with mixture and freeze for about an hour. Remove from freezer and insert wooden sticks. Return to freezer until completely hardened.
3. Place in the freezer at least 8 hours or overnight.

TIP: Fill ice cube trays with mixture and use instead of regular ice cubes in drinks.

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Refreshing Watermelon-mimosaWatermelon Mimosa
A refreshing summer mimosa perfect for wedding showers, girls night out, romantic summer evenings, or Sunday brunch.

Makes 2 to 3 cocktails.

Ingredients
– 1 cup watermelon purée (see WATERMELON PURÉE ABOVE))
– 1/2 cup light champagne or sparkling wine (preferably a demi-sec)

Directions
Divide watermelon juice among 2 to 3 champagne flutes. Top flutes with champagne, serve and enjoy!

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Refreshing Watermelon-shapes

A few of our favourite Watermelon Salads

Make a simple melon salad using honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelon. Use cookie cutters or a melon baller to dress it up though!

Watermelon & Arugula Salad – Fresh, peppery arugula leaves meet ripe, juicy, sweet watermelon and tangy feta cheese for a deliciously cool and refreshing salad. Quick and simple to make, Watermelon & Arugula Salad can be enjoyed by itself, or served as a summer side dish or appetizer.

Summer Salad with Fresh Watermelon & Cucumber – Chef Chad of Red’s Steakhouse uses a zesty lemon vinaigrette to dress this bright, healthy salad.

For more delicious watermelon recipes visit www.watermelon.org – the home for everything and anything watermelon!

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