It’s finally watermelon season! When I was a kid we used to have contests to see who could spit the little black watermelon seeds the furthest in the backyard. It always ended up with us spitting seeds at each other, which was really funny. Nowadays watermelons have been crossbred so they no longer have black seeds, which is kinda sad. Did you know the seeds actually contain reasonable amounts of magnesium, phosphorus and potassium? I guess I should have been eating them rather than spitting them at my sisters!
Watermelon is the perfect summer fruit because its high water content (92%!) makes it a delicious thirst quenching snack – perfect for sunny summer days. Watermelon is also packed with vitamins and nutrients that will keep your heart healthy and quench free radicals.
Undressing the key health benefits of watermelon
- Promotes Heart Health
- Concentrated source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that gives watermelon its pretty pink color. Lycopene has been found to be inversely associated with heart attacks and strokes.
- Excellent source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Good source of magnesium and potassium which help balance blood pressure.
- Very good source of Vitamin B6 which keeps artery damaging homocysteine in check
- Powerful Antioxidant
- Antioxidants neutralize cell damaging free radicals
- Vitamin C and Vitamin A reduce airway spasms that occur during asthma and reduce the risk of colon cancer
- Keeps you Skinny
- High in nutrients and low in calories
- Refreshing and appetite satisfying
How to pick a juicy watermelon
Look for a watermelon that is heavy for its size and has a nice and smooth rind. You also want to look for a section this is more yellow in color than the rest of the watermelon. This section is the part of the watermelon that was sitting on the ground while it grew, and if it is not present then the watermelon was picked too early and it won’t be as juicy and delicious.
How to eat watermelon
Watermelon is a great snack all by itself and it also tastes great in a fruit salad or in a mint, cucumber salad with a balsamic reduction. I like to get creative and serve watermelon in gazpacho form (aka cold soup). Watermelon Gazpacho is a deliciously refreshing appetizer or light dinner – perfect for those sizzling summer nights. This meal is so quick and easy to make, all you need to do is grab your ingredients and blend them together – no cooking required!
Recipe: Watermelon Gazpacho
Prep time: 10min
Inactive prep time: 10min
Serving size: 4 appetizers or a light meal for 2
Ingredients:
- 1 jalapeño pepper (2 heaping Tbsp), seeded and roughly diced
- 1/8 red onion (1/2 cup), roughly diced
- 3 Tbsp mint (20 leaves)
- 1 large tomato, roughly chopped
- 2 cups watermelon
- ½ cucumber, roughly chopped
- 2 tsp lime juice ( ¼ lime)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup crumbled feta *optional
Directions:
- In a food processor mince jalapeno pepper, red onion and mint.
- Add tomato, 1 cup watermelon cut into rough cubes and cucumber and puree until smooth.
- Add lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and pulse until mixed.
- Place in the fridge covered and chill for 10min.
- Meanwhile, dice remaining watermelon into 1cm cubes. Pour the gazpacho into individual bowls and garnish with cubed watermelon, crumbled or cubed feta if using and a sprig of mint.
*For step by step pictures of this recipe check out my site.
How do you like to eat your watermelons? Leave a comment and let me know!
If you also love watermelon or enjoyed my Gazpacho recipe, please pass this article on and help me spread the word about this yummy summer fruit.
Source:
Worlds Healthiest Foods
