Watermelon is the fruit of the summer par excellence. Moisturizing, refreshing and rich in properties.

Sweet, fresh and thirst-quenching, watermelon is the fruit that immediately makes a holiday.
You eat a slice and immediately feel yourself on the beach, in the sun and with your feet in the sand.

Best known by the name of watermelon, it is easy to find it on our tables from June to September.
We all love her for her bright (and patriotic!) Colors, for her fun shape and for her pleasant taste.

How do you choose watermelon?

The perfect watermelon is the one from solid skin, free of spots and scars and with a small yellow patch at the base. To be sure it will be good, knock on the walls and if the sound is empty it means that it is ripe at the right point.

Watermelon, as we have already told you, is rich in properties.

It is good for the heart and reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood.
It is good for the line because it has only 30 calories per 100 gr and a powerful diuretic effect.
It is good for love because it contains arginine, considered a natural Viagra.
It is good for sleep because it stimulates the body to produce serotonin.
It is good for the skin because it protects it from UV rays.

But, as already mentioned, watermelon is above all very good to bring to the table at any time of the day.
If eating watermelon just means slicing it and biting it by pulling the seeds away, here are some ideas that will tickle your palate.

Skewers of watermelon and feta

A perfect finger food for a standing aperitif.
Just alternate seedless watermelon cubes, feta cubes, cucumber slices and black olives on a wooden toothpick.

Sea frost

It is called this way, yet melon has nothing to do except for the fact that this is the name of watermelon in Sicilian dialect. This dessert is a sort of pudding and is prepared by whipping 350 g of seedless watermelon pulp. Then the juice is filtered and cooked over low heat with 40 g of corn starch and 40 g of sugar. When the consistency has become dense at the right point, the fire is turned off and the frost is poured into small cups. It is left to cool well in the refrigerator and then served with chopped pistachios.

Watermelon pizza

This is not a savory recipe, but a fun and colorful dessert that is very reminiscent of a classic pizza on the plate. Just cut a watermelon into round horizontal slices and decorate each slice with fresh fruit to taste and dehydrated coconut flakes. Then this slice is in turn cut into wedges and served as if it were a real pizza.

Toasted watermelon seeds

An idea not to throw away the seeds of watermelon, a source of magnesium, iron and proteins. Here is a very quick and easy recipe. Wash the seeds very well and let them dry in the sun if possible. Then arrange them in an oven size and season with oil and salt. Cook them at 180 degrees for 15 minutes. Once ready you can use them in many ways. They are good for nibbling, they are excellent added to salad or breakfast cereals and they are an excellent condiment for minced grilled meats and vegetables together with dried red pepper.

And the peel?

Here is a tip for do not throw away the watermelon peel.
Instead of cutting it into slices, divide the watermelon into two parts, that is, into two half balls. Empty the pulp (which you will use for the recipes we have suggested) and use it as a container for a fruit salad or cocktail. The idea of ​​recycling it to make it a vase of flowers is also very funny.

* You may be interested in: 10 recipes with watermelon, from the appetizer – fish – to the dessert; How to choose melon