Wednesday, July 22, 2015

9 Awesome (and Healthy) Ways to Eat Watermelon

There are few things better than the fresh crunch of a wedge of watermelon. But this summertime staple is more versatile than you might be giving it credit for.

In addition to being cool, refreshing and downright delicious, watermelon offers important nutrients, including vitamins A and C, plus potassium and fiber. It’s also a good source of the antioxidant lycopene. Enjoy it in both sweet and savory recipes.

Sweet
The tantalizing natural sweetness of this melon makes for divine desserts.


                                             Watermelon Slushies



                                     Raspberry-Watermelon Terrine with Blueberry Sauce



                                      Gingery Watermelon Petit Fours

Savory
Mild flavor and big crunch makes watermelon a welcome addition to savory dishes as well, plus it contains a nice boost of low-calorie nutrients.


                                        Jicama and Watermelon Salad



                                        Fish Tacos with Watermelon Salsa



                                         Tomato and Watermelon Gazpacho

Drinks
Last, but certainly not least, are the watermelon beverages. Cocktails and mocktails can be infused with seasonal colors and flavors.


                                       Watermelon-Strawberry Sangria



                                                 Watermelon-Mint Water



                                            Watermelon and Cucumber Smoothie

Ingredients

One 2-inch piece English cucumber, peeled and roughly chopped (about ½ cup), plus one slice reserved for garnish
3 tablespoons lowfat buttermilk
1 tablespoon honey, optional
½ small lime, juiced (about 1 tablespoon)
2 cups cubed seedless watermelon, frozen

Directions

Put the cucumber, buttermilk, honey if using and lime juice into a blender. Blend on high until smooth. Add half of the frozen watermelon and blend until almost completely smooth, turning off the blender and pushing down on the ingredients with a spatula or wooden spoon as needed to help the blending process. Add the remaining frozen watermelon and continue to blend until smooth. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water if needed to adjust consistency. Pour into a glass and garnish with a cucumber slice.

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