Ok gang--it is Summer--and that is watermelon season--Up here in the Hud-Val the local melons won;t pop for another moth, but we are all in the mood for some of those fat, sweet Southern babies that are in the market now!
Not only are wayermelons great in salad or eaten by hand, they are also a great ingredient to balance salty, sour and spicy flavors AND they are full of lycopene.
What
is lycopene? Lypocene is a powerful Antioxidant. LYCOPENE is found in CERTAIN
red foods---watermelon, tomatoes, red grapefruit and tropical fruits like
guava--but not berries--- Antioxidants protect us from bad free radicals that get into our system way too easily. Many of us get a buttload into our systems from eating--- food fried in OLD OIL, DUNKIN DOUGHNUTS, FAST FOOD, OLD BACON, SHITTY CUPCAKES, Nacho cheese sauce...etc etc--if you have ever needed a TUM, you have ingested an OD of killer free radicals. So eat plenty of melon to fight back! ---
3 Watermelon
recipes
Curry-Mustard
Chicken Thighs with Ric’s Way Cool Watermelon Salsa
BBQ SQUID with Ric’s
Way Cool Watermelon Sambal
Waterlemon Gazpacho
All can be varied to be vegetarian or paired with whatever protein moves ya-your choice
Curry-Mustard
Chicken Thighs with Ric’s Way Cool Watermelon Salsa
serves
4
For
the chicken-
8
free range chicken thighs
1/4
cup dijon mustard
3
tbls safflower oil
1
tbls turmeric
1
tbls curry powder
2
tbls lemon juice
pinch
of dry thyme
Baste
chicken while grilling
salsa
4
cups diced watermelon
2
cups mixed tomatoes, diced
1
chayote squash, peeled and sliced
1
cup scallions, sliced
1
tsp fresh ginger (minced)
1
splash of good caribe hot sauce
2
tbls cider vinegar
1
tbls rum
pinch
of Blue Mountain curry powder
minced
fresh thyme
salt
and pepper
Toss
all together. Yum!
BBQ SQUID with Ric’s
Way Cool Watermelon Sambal
This
sambal, or marinated condiment is a real special recipe!
The
rollercoaster of sensations experienced while eating this recipe with keep it
ensconced in your vault of summer secrets.
Dress
up grilled chicken or fish or just serve it as is in a decorative bowl. Try it over steamed rice with chopsticks for
lunch.
Tip,
Leave the jalapenos in visible rings so that those who choose to avoid them can
do so. If you do encounter a lusty blast of chile heat, dive back in for some
watermelon. It will cool you right down.
Serves
4 as a salad or 6-8 as a condiment
4
cups seeded watermelon cut into bite sized pieces
1/2
cup julienne red or yellow bell pepper
1/4
cup carrots, peeled and sliced paper thin
1
cup sliced cucumber
1
cup red or Vidalia onions, sliced in thin rings
1
medium poblano chile, julienned
1
hot Thai chile, sliced in rings
1
tsp minced garlic
2
tbls rice vinegar
1
tbls lime juice
2
tbls Thai fish sauce
1
tbls peanut oil
1
cup chopped unsalted peanuts
1/2
cup chopped cilantro
2
tbls chopped fresh spearmint
2
tbls chopped fresh basil
Toss
all together in a nonreactive bowl.
Serve with chopsticks in bowls layered with springs of mint and
cilantro, brown rice and mung bean sprouts
cool
but not cold.
Yum!
Skewered
Squid for topping
2
lb cleaned squid
marinade-
1tbls
sesame oil
2
tbls tamari
1
tbls rice vinegar like
2
tbls ginger
2
tbls molasses
1
tbls 5 spice powder
String
the squid on skewers
whisk marinade ingredients until smooth. Brush
on squid.
Grill
rapidly on high heat.
The
octopus is done in 60 seconds.
WATERMELON
GAZPACHO
this
is a cool refreshing soup with Southeast Asian influences. It’s a great way to
use up left over watermelon. The chiles add important flavor. Use Anaheim or
New mexican chiles as a milder substitute.
serves
4
1/2
red watermelon (seedless if possible)
pureed
& strained or run through a food
mill
*
6
cups watermelon puree
1
medium red onion (minced)
4
tbls each chopped basil. mint, cilantro (all fresh)
1
medium cucumber (diced)
4
tbls finely diced red bell pepper
3
tbls diced jicama
1
tsp fresh garlic (minced)
1
tbls minced serrano or jalapeno chile
3
tbls lime juice
4
tbls white wine vinegar
2
tsp salt
1/2
tsp ground pepper
mix
& stir gently and chill well.
served
ice cold, garnished with chopped scallions and a lime wheel
