Tag: watermelon

Watermelon: 6 salads for the summer – Italian Cuisine

Always keep a nice watermelon cool in the summer because in addition to eating it naturally by cutting it into slices and discarding the seeds, you can use it to prepare fresh salads.
You won't believe it, but the sweet taste of this fruit also goes well with strong flavors such as that of cheese. Seeing is believing!
We therefore want to offer you some quick and easy recipes to bring a slightly different salad to the table, which will convince even the most skeptical. Well yes, watermelon and feta go very well together and we will prove it to you.

Watermelon

How to clean watermelon

Obviously before cutting the watermelon into cubes to mix it with other ingredients you will have to deprive it of all the seeds because it is not nice to find them on the plate between a forkful and the other. So first wash the watermelon well to remove all the soil that can be deposited outside. Then slice it or dig it inside with a tool to make small balls. Once you have obtained cubes or watermelon spheres, remove the seeds very patiently.

The seeds are not thrown away

Do you know that watermelon seeds can become a delicious snack?
Just toast them in the oven for 25 minutes at 180 ° with oil and salt. They are excellent for nibbling.

How to choose watermelon

A heavy watermelon is a ripe watermelon because it contains a lot of water. To choose the best one, take two watermelons of the same size and weigh them. The heaviest is the best.
Another selection criterion is the appearance of the fruit which must be uniform. The peel must not have irregularities or dents. The base, i.e. the one that has been laid on the ground, must have a dark color. If it is white, it means that the watermelon is not ripe.
Another way to understand if the fruit is good is to hear the sound, but only the real experts can do it. Just knock on the peel and listen. His must be deaf and full.
However, if you really can't choose, buy an already cut watermelon and everything will be easier. Just look at the color of the pulp which must be bright red with very dark seeds and then check the consistency. that doesn't have to be floury.

Here in the gallery 6 watermelon-based salads perfect for summer

Watermelon and tomato soup – Italian Cuisine

Peel the watermelon, cut it into cubes and remove the seeds.

Wash the tomato and cut it into small pieces.

Combine watermelon, tomato, salt, pepper and basil in a bowl and blend.

The watermelon and tomato soup is ready, seasoned with a dash of oil, decorate with a little fresh basil and serve.

Watermelon seeds: can they be eaten? – Italian Cuisine

They contain more nutrients than the pulp of the fruit: about thirty grams provides 8 grams of protein and 13 of mostly unsaturated fats, as well as minerals such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc

The seedless watermelons they are increasingly in demand also in Italy, as well as in the North and Central Europe. instead theIn Africa, in Asia and in the Middle East, the "ordinary" ones are more appreciated, precisely because for the populations that live in these areas, even the seeds are precious: they are roasted and consumed as a snack (their flavor reminds that of the walnuts), can be ground (their flour is used to make bread), or still crushed and turned into a paste useful for thickening and enriching soups. Finally, the oil extracted from the seeds can be used to cook and fry.

Nutrient-rich

On the other hand, watermelon seeds actually contain even more nutrients than the pulp of the fruit: a portion of thirty grams of dried seeds provides about 160 calories, 8 grams of protein and 13 grams of fat (mostly unsaturated), as well as minerals such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. The seeds also contain various phytochemicals, including flavonoids.

This is why some scholars have already promoted watermelon seeds to superfood, useful to prevent obesity, arthritis and diabetes, and to protect the immune system. The research carried out so far, however, has tested the effect of the seeds especially on animals: other clinical studies are needed, before being able to ensure the validity of these conclusions also on men.

Meanwhile, the seeds can become a healthy snack, rich in beneficial nutrients and also suitable for those who want to keep weight under control. Suffice it to say that in a portion of 30 grams there are about 400: even too many to eat at once. Instead, a portion of chips of the same weight contains only 15. A large handful of watermelon seeds contains about 55 seeds and weighs about 4 grams, for a total of twenty calories: much less than a packet of chips.

How to toast them

The seeds taken directly from the watermelon are not appetizing, because the peel is hard and bitter. But toast them is simple. First of all, we must sChoose the dark ones and discard the white ones. After rinsing them in a colander, let them dry well. Then, in a wok or in a pan, heat a little olive oil and add the seeds, and stir frequently until they become brown. Finally, a sprinkling of salt can be added.

Or you can distribute the seeds on a baking pan (if desired, they can be flavored with a drizzle of oil and a sprinkling of salt): they must cook for about 15-20 minutes at about 160 °, until they begin to perfume. The roasted seeds, as well as a snack, can also be used to enrich the salad, or combined with muesli of dried fruit and oats.