How To Cut Watermelon Into Easy Grab-And-Go Sticks
Sweet, juicy, and thirst-quenching, the watermelon is, in many ways, the perfect fruit. Among the many important facts about watermelons are that they are 92 percent water, which makes them perfect for hydration, and they are also packed with antioxidants and vitamins A and C. Not only is it delicious on its own, but it is also a versatile component that can be used in various ways. You can turn a large watermelon into a vessel to serve a cocktail made out of its juice for a party or turn its juice into a delicious tomato, watermelon and lime cocktail that would rival the best juice bars.
But while it is pretty easy to scoop out the flesh of a watermelon, it is not easy to portion evenly if you wish to serve it in shapes other than slices. Fortunately, there is a way to cut a watermelon into evenly sized sticks, a great way to have the fruit ready to go as a snack straight from the fridge. By flipping over and cutting the melon from the rind with a sharp knife, you can make evenly sized portions of this delectable fruit in no time.
Making perfect watermelon sticks
To make watermelon sticks, you would need the right watermelon. A round, medium-sized specimen is ideal, as a giant, oval melon would be rather difficult to cut on a normal-sized kitchen surface.
Next, halve the watermelon and flip one half on the cutting surface so the rind faces up. Now, imagine you are drawing a grid on the melon, then first cut it into slices of an inch and a half each. Once all the slices are cut through, turn the entire melon half 90 degrees. Using the same width as your guide, cut the melon into square-shaped columns. Congrats! You have cut half a watermelon into sticks.
You can serve these watermelon sticks using the rind as a handle or trim off the rind and run a skewer through it to make watermelon skewers. You can also cut the watermelon sticks again to make evenly sized cubes, perfect for eating in a fruit bowl or for other recipes.
The many ways to enjoy watermelon
Aside from being a delicious treat, watermelon cubes can lend themselves to a wide variety of recipes. For example, you can make a salad with watermelon, feta cheese, cubes of cucumber and mint. Combine the watermelon cubes with cubes of feta, halved and seeded cucumber slices, and torn mint leaves. Dress the mixture with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. The result is a refreshing salad perfect for enjoying summer's taste all year round. An alternative is watermelon and mozzarella skewers, a cold appetizer made by skewering cubes of watermelon, small basil leaves, and small balls of mozzarella cheese. Drizzle the skewers with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Another recipe that you might want to try is grilled watermelon skewers. Run a skewer through several watermelon cubes (don't forget to soak your bamboo skewers so they do not burn on the grill!). Brush it with a glaze made with honey, chili flakes, olive oil, salt, and lime juice while grilling. The glaze will caramelize alongside the natural sugar of the watermelon to make a tasty sweet, and savory treat.