The Watermelon
The watermelon is a useful plant originating from central and southern Africa and cultivated nowadays in warmer regions around the world. Watermelon refers not just to the fruit but also to the plant producing it. The fruit is a 20 to 60 cm long round to cylindric berry with a light to dark green colored rind and a juicy, mostly sweet pulp, usually colored pink, red or yellow and sometimes orange.
History Of The Watermelon
As the pulp of the wild watermelon has a very bitter taste they first were gathered just for their nutritious seeds. Around 2,000 BC the first watermelons were cultivated in the area of ancient Egypt and western Asia and it was spread very fast across central Asia and India until it finally reached China as well as southern Russia. First just cultivated in hot and dry, tropical regions and in the area around the Mediterranean Sea the watermelon is cultivated nowadays in subtropic regions as well. Especially in Australia and Madagascar you can also find imbruted watermelons nowadays. 
Some Nutrition Facts
The edible part of the watermelon consists mostly of water, 95.8%. Further content is 0.2% protein, 0.2% fat, 3.3% carbohydrates and 0.3% mineral nutrients as well as vitamin A and C.
Cause of the huge amount of water the watermelon is mostly eaten as refreshing and adipsous fruit. In dry regions in africa the watermelon was for hundreds of years an important resource for water.
Especially in summer watermelon, served on crushed ice, is still enjoyed for its refreshing effect. In Cyprus people are eating watermelons in summer together with halloumi. The juicy slices of the watermelon are quite refreshing while the slices of halloumi make a delicious taste.
Cause of the huge amount of water the watermelon is mostly eaten as refreshing and adipsous fruit. In dry regions in africa the watermelon was for hundreds of years an important resource for water.
Especially in summer watermelon, served on crushed ice, is still enjoyed for its refreshing effect. In Cyprus people are eating watermelons in summer together with halloumi. The juicy slices of the watermelon are quite refreshing while the slices of halloumi make a delicious taste.
Salad With Watermelon, Fig, Feta and Arugula
Ingredients for the salad
1 small watermelon, cut into cubes
6 fresh figs, cut into quarters
2 bunches fresh arugula
200 grams feta
Ingredients for the dressing
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup lemon juice
1 - 2 Tbsp. honey
Fresh black pepper and sea salt to season
Preparation
- Whisk the dressing ingredients and put aside
- Put the arugula on separate salad plates, then top with the quarters of the figs and cubes of the watermelon. Crumble bits of feta cheese over each salad, then sprinkle a little dressing over each. Serve immediately.
More Salads With Watermelons
- Watermelon Salad with Feta or Cotija
- Watermelon salad two ways, one with feta cheese, lime, mint, and parsley, the other with cotija cheese, cilantro, chili pepper, jicama, lime, and cumin.
- Watermelon? Partner it with Halloumi. A recipe for Halloumi Watermelon Salad
- A great sounding recipe partnering halloumi and watermelon into a salad.
- Tomato, watermelon and feta salad
- by Jill Dupleix from Saturday Kitchen
- Watermelon Salad with Mint Leaves, Salad Recipe
- Watermelon Salad with Mint Leaves is a very beautiful salad and also delicious!
More Recipes With Watermelon
- Watermelon Muffins Recipe
- Watermelon juice and pulp make a moist, plump muffin. The chocolate chips simulate seeds as well as add flavor.
- Watermelon Sorbet Recipe
- A tasty sorbet using watermelon as main ingredient
- Watermelon Gazpacho
- The delicate flavors of cucumber and watermelon go hand in hand to create a sweet-and-savory chilled soup, perfect as a first course on a hot night.
- Frozen Watermelon-Lime Bars
- One of our food editors turns a beloved pie into a frozen indulgence for the summer.
- Watermelon Cake
- Ingredient listing and instructions on how to make Watermelon Cake.
Drinks With Watermelon
Watermelons are not only to eat. You also can prepare a lot of very tasty and refreshing drinks from watermelons. Try a Watermelon Aqua Fresca on a hot summer evening for example.
- Watermelon Margaritas Recipe
- A different style of margarita, try it with watermelon
- Delicious Watermelon juice drink recipe
- Watermelon Juice aka Watermelon Aqua Fresca or Watermelon Drink
- Watermelon in Rose-Lime Syrup
- I adapted this wonderful refreshing dessert/drink from the blog called As Dear As Salt by Richa of New Jersey. A very refreshing and cooling summer drink or dessert. My husband likes to add some gin to his glass.
- Relaxing Watermelon Drink
- Looking for an easy, healthy drink to share with your whole family, or something to add healthy sweetness to your day?
- Watermelon Smoothie
- And finally a refreshing smoothie with watermelons
Watermelon Carving
Watermelons don't just titillate someones palate, they also can be very pleasant for the eye. Especially when someone with a skillful hand and a small, very sharp pointed knife, turned an ordinary watermelon into a bouquet of flowers or an oversized rose. And sometimes you find the watermelon even as the container for salads while the green rind is partially cut away to make beautiful patterns in form of flowers.
Not just watermelon, but also other fruits and vegetables are suitable for carvings. Look at these amazing pumpkin carvings or learn how to do pumpkin carving yourself.
Not just watermelon, but also other fruits and vegetables are suitable for carvings. Look at these amazing pumpkin carvings or learn how to do pumpkin carving yourself.
For Best Results In Carving
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Japanese Cutlery
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While diamonds are the girl's best friend, kitchen knives are the cook's best friend. Ask any professional cook out there and they will confirm that the knives are their most appreciated tools for their culinary creation. This is especially true for...
More Products In Watermelon Design To Buy
Show Your Love For Watermelons
Yummy Watermelon T-Shirt
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Your Feedback
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- WhitU4ever WhitU4ever May 2, 2009 @ 7:06 pm
- When I was pregnant with my firstborn I ate an entire watermelon just before going for a checkup. Every other check up, he told me I was not gaining enough weight. This time, he told me to slow down. :) I need not say how much I like watermelon, especially when pregnant. Great lens!
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- AppalachianCountry AppalachianCountry Apr 30, 2009 @ 7:39 am
- Great lens. Thank-you for the awesome muffin recipe and the neat video.
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- kab kab Apr 20, 2009 @ 9:22 am
- Watermelon is also great for people on the renal diet!
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- tandemonimom tandemonimom Jan 2, 2009 @ 9:18 am
- Watermelon ... one of my absolute favorite fruits! 5* and welcome to the new Real Food group on Squidoo!
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- Margo_Arrowsmith Margo_Arrowsmith Nov 16, 2008 @ 8:43 am
- I love watermelon! I never heard of putting it in anything, but that salad sounds great! I will give you a recipe for a watermelon juice. You have to have a powerful juicer, but just take equal amounts of watermelon and fresh pineapple and put them through the juicer together. WOW, it is beyond refreshing and very filling.
***** and Margo's Squidoo Library lens Main Branch with this one.
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