The produce stands are bursting with fresh, ripe watermelons and what better way to enjoy the end of summer
parties than by enjoying fresh watermelon. One of our favorite adult treats are watermelon cocktails – from frozen
watermelon daiquiri’s to watermelon martini’s. Here are just a few delicious recipes to try out this season.
1. Watermelon Daiquiri
A New Orleans favorite is the Watermelon Daiquiri. Although mixes are readily available, you can’t beat this easy
recipe for fresh daiquiris. To save time, you can always buy a seedless watermelon.
• Ice Cubes (I prefer crushed ice or small cubes – they blend best)
• 8 Cups peeled, seeded, cubed watermelon (freeze in shallow pan for AT LEAST 8 hours prior)
• ½ cup fresh lime juice
• ½ cup orange liqueur
• 1 cup light rum
Blend/process frozen watermelon, lime juice, liqueur and rum till smooth. Add ice slowly, processing till smooth and mixture reaches 6-cup level.
Serve with a wedge of watermelon or a skewer stick of balls of melons, berries and grapes. This recipe makes eight servings.
2. Watermelon Martini
Although there are many variations of martinis, this watermelon martini version passed on by a bartender friend in Louisiana is one of the best. Some people pass on the salt, some people add more. My husband loves his watermelon with salt, so he skips the sugar. I find using both is the way to go!
• 1 cup watermelon juice
• 4 oz. vodka
• ¼ cup lime juice
• ¼ cup of syrup (sugar)
• 3 tbs salt (optional)
• 3 tbs sugar (optional)
• Ice
• Watermelon wedges or slices for garnish
If you are using the salt and/or sugar, wet the rims of each chilled martini glass with a piece of watermelon. Dip the rims into the salt/sugar mixture, i..e., as you would when rimming a margarita glass with salt.
Mix watermelon juice, lime juice, vodka, and syrup into a cocktail shaker and top with ice. Shake well. Pour contents through strainer into martini glasses. Garnish with watermelon wedges.
This recipe serves two.
3. Watermelon Cooler
This refreshing drink has a little extra kick, thanks to the Triple Sec. This recipe makes 6 delightful drinks.
• 6 cups of watermelon, no seeds or rind (again, remember, if time is an issue in party planning, you can splurge and get a seedless watermelon.)
• ½ cup Vodka
• ¼ cup Triple Sec
• 3 tablespoons lime juice (preferably fresh limes)
• Thin watermelon slices for garnishes
Puree the watermelon pieces until no solids remain – this may require straining through a sieve. Your ultimate result is to have 2-1/3 cups of watermelon juice.
Mix the watermelon juice, vodka, Triple Sec and lime juice. Serve in iced glasses or mugs, garnished with watermelon slices.
4. Watermelon Slush
This recipe came from a dear friend in California. She had a way of making everything seem better and this drink is no exception. Though it has the same consistency of a daiquiri, the addition of lemon juice and lemon zest, makes it one of the best watermelon drinks you will ever try.
• 4 cups watermelon, seed and rind removed
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 cup vodka
• 2 ounce syrup
• 2 ounces melon liqueur
• 4 twists lemon zest to garnish
Puree the watermelon, and pour into ice cube trays. Freeze for at least five hours. Also freeze four glasses (we use martini glasses).
In a blender, combine frozen watermelon cubes, lemon juice, syrup, vodka and liqueur and blend until smooth. Pour into frozen glasses. Garnish each with twist of lemon. Enjoy!
Some important things to remember when choosing a watermelon:
• It should be symmetrical and have no bruising, dents or cuts.
• Ripe watermelons will have healthy sheens.
• The dull yellow spot on the underside is where it was growing on the ground.
• When you thump the watermelon, the sound should be “dull and hollow.”
• A ripe watermelon will be heavy, although the weight is attributed to the fact that over 92% of the watermelon is water.
So go out and enjoy one of the season’s greatest vegetables (that’s right, it’s not a fruit) in a variety of delicious ways.
