Grilled Watermelon

JanuaryBride's Note:

This is something you need to try (as a side dish, dessert or incorporated into a salad or salsa). You will be surprised to taste that the watermelon is not quite as sweet as you'd think and it's more "meaty". I first had it in Sweden as a side dish and came home looking for the recipe! You can easily turn this recipe into a grilled watermelon salad by serving each wedge on a bed of baby lettuces or arugula, drizzled with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing then sprinkled with a little crumbled feta, blue, or chèvre cheese. Cooking time includes the "resting time" for the watermelon prior to grilling.

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 8

Yield: 8.0 wedges

• 8 slices seedless watermelon , wedges, 1 . 5 inches thick
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• sea salt
• fresh ground pepper

Directions:

1. How to get your watermelon wedges: Cut the watermelon in half, place cut side down on the table, then cut into slices, about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut each slice in half, creating two wedges (if your melon is really big, you may need to cut each slice into three wedges). You can leave the rind on or cut it off, totally up to you.
2. Lightly sprinkle the wedges on both sides with the salt. Stand the wedges on their edges on a rack over a sink or pan and let them drain for half an hour.
3. Preheat the grill to high.
4. After the watermelon has drained, rinse each piece under cold running water. Place each piece between two folded paper towels and gently but firmly press to remove excess water. You should stop just when you feel the watermelon begin to crunch.
5. Brush the watermelon lightly on both sides with the olive oil. Grill over high heat until grill marks have formed and the melon is slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
6. Remove from grill and sprinkle with sea salt and a little fresh ground pepper.

Reviews

[magpie diner]

My first time grilling watermelon too, although not the first time having it with salt. I thought this was great. I definitely want to use it "in" something, not the sort of side I'd eat on its own - well actually, it would be an interesting surprise for our next BBQ party guests, serve it up alongside their burger. After reading some of the reviews I think I may have been too light with the salt. The sweetness of the melon actually intensified for me, so it could have taken a touch more. I was amazed at how well it held together on the grill ... proper little watermelon steaks! Cut yourself a few extra slices if you're worried about presentation, I broke a few tips off in the salt/rest stage. Thanks for sharing JB, I'm so happy I tried this!

[weekend cooker]

Never griiled watermelon before, so I had to try.. mixed ratings kids absolutely loved it, I thought it was okay, and would have again, adjusting the amount of sea salt, might have put to much I think.. and DS, didn't care for it. Have plenty of water melon left over, and will decrease the sea salt and pepper and will update. Made for Recipe Swap #42.

[NELady]

I had to try grilled watermelon - which, hubby and I decided, isn't for us (though it isn't disgusting or anything). I had a little left-over pineapple and decided to throw it on the grill with the watermelon (I've never grilled any fruit before) and it turns out that we LOVE grilled pineapple - so I'm delighted that I tried this recipe! Made for ZWT5, and I'm a Groovy GastroGnome!