25 Awesome Watermelon Recipes for Summer

As soon as July loomed into sight again and I began planning out this month's posts, the first thing that sprang to mind for the recipe post was something pertaining to the succulent summertime classic that is watermelon.

I've only met a couple of people (interestingly, one of my grandpas was amongst them) who didn’t madly adore watermelon. Hit on a truly ripe, juicy specimen and it is arguably amongst the most delicious, satisfying, enjoyable foods ever (not to mention that it's healthy for you too!).



{Really, is there any more iconic or appealing summertime staple on the fruit front than watermelon? We've been tucking into it for centuries now and likely will for many more to come. Vintage image source.}


Like many folks, I have plenty of happy memories of eating watermelon throughout my life and though it is hard for some of my medical conditions to handle it in bigger quantities, I still indulge in a slice or two anytime we have one in the house. It is too perfect and too tasty a food to back away from unless it really is a matter of life and death for a person, if you ask me (assuming you're a fan to begin with that is!).

While I have no doubt that there were various watermelon recipes back in the day that went beyond just "cut and serve (salt or sugar optional)" for watermelon - in fact, I've seen some in old school cookbooks over the years - a whole evening spent searching online did not turn up any vintage ads or recipes pages for any of them, aside from this one for Watermelon Salad that I blogged about two summers ago and a few newspaper style clippings for watermelon rind pickles.

So instead of throwing in the towel on my plans for a (second) watermelon recipe post, I decided that I'd try something I don't usually do here and instead roundup of a selection of absolutely fantastic sounding watermelon recipes from across the web and share them all here with you today.

After all, it the final Saturday in what is often the hottest month of the year in the Western Hemisphere and if that doesn't call for an array of tongue pleasing watermelon recipes that, for the most part, are a snap to throw together even on the most roasty-toasty of days, I don't know what does!

1. Watermelon Lamburgers

2. Grilled Watermelon and Feta Stacked Salads

3. Ginger Watermelon Italian Ice

4. Beef and Watermelon Stir-Fry

5. Vegan Watermelon Coconut Ice Cream

6. Watermelon Champagne Cocktail

7. Watermelon Lemonade Snow Cone

8. Salted No Churn Watermelon Ice Cream

9. Watermelon Jicama Salad with Queso Fresco and Honey-Lime Vinaigrette

10. Naturally Sweetened Watermelon Raspbery Lemonade

11. Watermelon Kiwi Pops

12. Paleo Watermelon Berry Smoothie

13. Quinoa Watermelon Salad

14. (Paleo) Watermelon Cake

15. Watermelon Goat Cheese Appetizer

16. Creamy Frozen Yogurt Watermelon Pops

17. Lemon Balm and Watermelon Green Iced Tea

18. Homemade Watermelon Slush

19. Watermelon Peach Salsa with Tomatoes

20. Watermelon Gazpacho

21. Cool and Creamy Watermelon Pie

22. Summer Watermelon Salad

23. Watermelon Mint Cocktail

24. Sour Watermelon Gummies

25. Vegan Watermelon Milkshakes

{All photos are care of their respective sources, which can be reached by clicking on the recipe link below each image. Unlike vintage images which are often much more in the public domain and for which the reproduction and sharing of is more liberally tolerated, I fully understand that some food bloggers do not like to have their photos shared on other blogs, even when a link back to their site is provided. If such is the case and your photo appears here, please let me know by email and I'll happily take it down or credit it in a different way that you're happy with. Thank you!}

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Yummmmm!!! Which of these watermelon culinary masterpieces and simple stunners appeals to you most of us? I'm really, really digging the froyo pops and watermelon "cake", but think they all sound seriously fantastic!

As I do like to generally keep the recipes that I share here either vintage or classics from my own family (which are usually vintage at this point themselves), I don't foresee taking this approach all that often with recipe posts, but it could be fun for a nice chance of pace every now and then. If you like this style of recipe roundup post, please don't hesitate to let me know in the comments, I'd love to get your feedback on it.

{Run, don't walk, to the nearest grocery store, produce shop, or farmer's market and snap up a prize watermelon on the double. Your taste buds and core temperature will both thank you! Vintage image source.}

Do yourself a delicious favour and rush out to the store (or to the fridge or garden, if you already have a melon to hand) and pick yourself up a big, ripe, gorgeous verdant coloured watermelon to tuck into this weekend. 

With the mercury still throw the roof, believe me when I say you'll be glad that you did! :) 

A wonderful 1940s way with watermelon salad

Watermelon and summer go hand-in-suntanned-hand like winter and hot cocoa, spring and chocolate eggs, and autumn and pumpkin pie. They're a longstanding, hugely beloved favourite pairing the world over and though certain modern cookery writers might have you believe that they invented watermelon salads (Nigella's thoroughly scrumptious watermelon, feta, and black olive salad spring to mind in this regard), such – as we’ll see today – is certainly not the case.

It's a safe bet to say that watermelon is most often eaten in it's natural state, be it room temperate or pleasing chilled, but that doesn't mean it's a stranger to being used in recipes either. From sorbets to margaritas, jams to smoothies, the creative uses for this immensely refreshing fruit are nearly limitless.

I adore watermelon, though it's been tricky (as with most fruits) for me to eat for numerous years now, I still indulge in a small portion periodically during the summer months - how can one not, when a good, sweet, lip-lickingly juicy watermelon tastes better than any candy and is packed with oodles of vitamin C, vitamin A, and lycopene?

Without a doubt, one of my favourite ways to enjoy watermelon is in a salad, be it sweet or savory, the later of which I've been making a pasta salad with involving a honey and blood orange dressing for years now, as well as a mixed greens gem that involves chives and grilled chicken. I'm also a huge fan of the aforementioned pairing of feta, olive and watermelon, and have yet to serve that combination to anyone who didn't instantly go gaga for it.

While recently perusing one of my most beloved vintage ad and recipe websites, Found in Mom's Basement, I came across an intriguing sounding recipe from 1947 for a spice filled dressing to be partnered with melon salad. Interestingly, Wesson oil didn't name this dressing or recipe as a whole, so I've decided to dub it Summery Citrus and Watermelon Salad in a Mustard Paprika Dressing.




{If you don't have one already, why not invest in a melon baller so that you can make picture perfect balls of fruit like those shown in today's charming 1940s watermelon salad recipe? Image source.}


Now, I'm the first to admit that watermelon and mustard are not a pairing I've often craved in the same forkful, but it's sometimes the curious flavour combinations that prove to be the most delicious, so the next time we pick up a watermelon, I think I'll give this forties side dish a spin.

If you're squarely against the idea of the two together - may I first suggest ditching the dry mustard and replacing both it and some of the oil with your favourite (store bought or homemade) honey mustard dressing?

Still not a fan, then scrap it entirely, perhaps subbing in a bit more citrus juice and peel. I love the taste of onions and watermelon together, so I'd also suggest trying some tender green onions, thinly sliced shallots, or red onions here as well. Should you happen to be a fan of radishes, I also find they - to borrow a phrase from my friends in the UK - go down a treat with watermelon.

This salad would be splendid made with honeydew, cantaloupe, or casaba melon (the later of which is usually very melon in flavour, thus making it great for recipes where you don't want the melon taste to dominate the dish). You could also try it with apples, peaches, nectarines, grapes, or even pineapple, just depending on your tastes and what's in season.

Hard as it may be to believe, we're now half way through August and just a little over a month away from the official end of summer, which is all the more reason to skittle down to the nearest grocery store or farmer's market (should you happen to be lucky enough to live somewhere with locally grown melon) and pick yourself up another watermelon or two while they're still at the peak of their season.

Serve it up in a fun salad, skewered on a fruit kebab, chopped up in a salsa, simply as is, or any other way your heart desires. The secret isn't so much in how you serve watermelon during the summer, but rather that you dish it up and savour its succulent flavour point blank - just remember to keep a stack of napkins handy to help wipe up all that fabulous juice when you do! :)