Watermelon

If your watermelon isn’t very sweet, force it to be savory by adding peppery radishes and a quick vinaigrette. With mint strewn all over, it's super-refreshing.

Aguas frescas, water-based fruit drinks, are a cool way to make your fresh fruit go further—especially in the summertime when you might have a larger watermelon than you know what to do with, or peaches that are starting to shrivel.

The perfect romantic-comedy homage in a drink—a little sweet, a little bitter, and HOT. 

This refreshing blended drink is inspired by ayran, doogh, and lassi. Yogurt makes it tangy and creamy; white pepper gives a touch of earthy heat.

Watermelon contains natural sugars and plenty of liquid, which make this smoothie light and refreshing. The fresh mint gives it that je ne sais quoi that you might not be able to pinpoint right away, but which makes the flavor a total standout. 

Think of this smoothie-like sipper as a base, then start riffing. Try blending mild red pepper flakes with mango, finely grated ginger with pineapple, or cucumber and mint with honeydew.

A quick vinaigrette gives watermelon chunks a bit of extra brightness, perfect for pairing with charred ribs and sweet cherry tomatoes.

While the ingredients for this sweet, salty, and savory salad can all be prepped ahead, the greens should be tossed through just before serving so they stay bright and crisp.

Grilling the watermelon adds a savory depth to the fruit, giving this refreshing summer salad much more flavor than you’d imagine from this simple combination.

There’s no law that says watermelon salads must incorporate feta. This renegade combination is at once sweet, tart, and savory—the kind of dish that’s as comfortable at the breakfast table as it is at a potluck.

Believe it or not, watermelon and feta make a great pairing. Toss in some hot chili peppers and cilantro and you have a salad to delight everyone who tries it. Buy seedless watermelon for this—you won’t be disappointed when you try it.

Marinating and searing the watermelon concentrates its flavor and primes it for this savory treatment.

Wow! This flavor-packed limeade is a real thirst quencher during the dog days of summer, when watermelon is at its best. Should a festive occasion arise, it also makes a wonderful margarita mixer when paired with premium white tequila.

Serve this cooling mint-infused watermelon juice as cooling refreshment in the summer sun.

This slushy blender cocktail is perfect for whiling away the summer hours.

People's Pops At first lick, these pops will bring back memories of summer afternoons—but with the distinction that these sophisticated frozen treats are made with fresh fruit and herbs. You can use any watermelon, although yellow is an unexpected change from red. Basil and tarragon are good alternatives to the mint.

They look fancy, but these bite-size cubes are simple. A melon baller keeps things neat, but a regular spoon works, too.

This melon dessert will help keep you hydrated on scorching days.

Believe it or not, watermelon and feta make a great pairing. Toss in some hot chili peppers and cilantro and you have a salad to delight everyone who tries it. Buy seedless watermelon for this—you won't be disappointed when you try it!

A dollop of yogurt keeps these pops from being too icy, and we love the way the ginger adds a little spice.

Watermelon and heirloom tomatoes work together to create a juicy and flavorful arrangement that is sweet and tangy. Use different-colored watermelon with tomatoes for a stunning presentation. Heaping the salad over a crunchy base of fresh arugula keeps the various flavors in check.

Since I've spent so many years eating and cooking in Spain, I would be remiss if I didn't include a gazpacho in this book. But alas, this is not your abuela's gazpacho. In this version, peaches, plums, and watermelon all come together in a bright, colorful, chilled soup that is topped with a single seared diver scallop. The tart sour plums allow the sweet plump scallop to feel a little less self-conscious in its summery dress. If you can't find sour plums, substitute sweet plums, preferably golden plums, plus the juice of 2 lemons.

Because no two batches of fruit have the same sweetness, it’s important to adjust the mix before freezing. This will affect more than flavor because sugar lowers the freezing point of water; so the sweeter your mix, the slushier your sorbet. Too little sugar and the sorbet will be icy hard. Some chefs use a saccharometer (which gauges a liquid’s density by how much of the instrument floats above the surface), but a large uncooked egg stands in quite well (see step 4). Watermelon is one of the simplest flavors to make, since it requires no added water. Follow the amounts in the chart on page 485 to make the suggested flavor variations. When using only juice, you can skip the first step. Citrus fruit can be squeezed by hand. For the kiwi and pineapple sorbets, you will need to add fresh lime or lemon juice along with water in the first step. All liquids should be strained into a deep bowl or plastic container as directed. If desired, add up to 3 tablespoons of other flavorings such as liqueur before adding the simple syrup.