Fresh ideas for a fun fiesta menu
(Family Features) There’s no better way to spice up a party than by using unexpected ingredients in fun, flavorful dishes and drinks. For your next fiesta, celebrate a star of the party with sweet and juicy watermelon.
Not only does versatile watermelon lend a unique taste to your menu, it’s a healthy ingredient that provides natural hydration with 92 percent water content, along with the antioxidant lycopene and the amino acid citrulline.
These recipes show how, with a little creative carving, you can use the whole melon, including flesh, juice and rind, for big value and zero waste.
Find more fiesta-ready recipes at watermelon.org.
Cactus Carving
- Medium-large oval or oblong watermelon (seeded or seedless)
- Cutting board
- Paring knife
- Dry erase marker
- Kitchen knife
- Scoop
- Cactus cookie cutter
- Small flower cookie cutters
- Toothpicks
- Fire and Ice Salsa (recipe below)
- Wash watermelon under cool, running water and pat dry.
- Attach toothpicks randomly around cactus to make thorns and decorate with watermelon flowers. Decorate bottom rind scrap with toothpicks to resemble short, round cactus.
- Fill bowl with Fire and Ice Salsa and serve with tortilla chips.
Nachos with Watermelon Avocado Salsa
Makes: 8 servings
- 1 avocado, peeled, seeded and chopped
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1 can (4 ounces) diced green chilies, drained
- 2 tablespoons diced red onion
- 1 1/2 cups diced watermelon
- 16 ounces fat-free refried beans
- 11 ounces corn tortilla chips
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1/3 cup fat-free sour cream
- Heat oven to 350° F.
- To make salsa: In medium bowl, combine avocado, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, chilies and red onion; toss to thoroughly mix. Add watermelon and toss gently. Set aside.
- Over medium heat, heat beans until hot. Mash if preferred.
- Place chips on flat, oven-proof plate or cookie sheet and top with beans and cheese. Repeat layers as desired. Heat in oven 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted and chips are hot.
- Top with salsa mixture and sour cream.
Tip: Reserve some salsa to place in bowl for dipping.
Fire and Ice Salsa
Makes: 3 cups
- 3 cups seeded and finely chopped watermelon
- 1/2 cup finely diced green peppers
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon finely sliced green onion
- 1-2 tablespoons finely diced jalapeno peppers
- Combine ingredients; mix well and cover. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
Blended Watermelon Margarita
Makes: 2 margaritas
- 2 cups seedless watermelon, cubed and frozen
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 ounces silver tequila
- 1 1/2 ounces lime juice
- 1 ounce elderflower liqueur
- pinch of salt
- lime slices, for garnish
- In blender, combine watermelon, water, tequila, lime juice, elderflower liqueur and salt. Blend until smooth.
- Pour into two chilled margarita glasses and garnish with lime slices.
Watermelon Margarita on the Rocks
Makes: 2 margaritas
Watermelon Simple Syrup:
- 2 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
- 1 cup sugar
Watermelon Juice:
- 2 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
- 1/2 cup water
Margarita:
- lime wedges
- coarse salt
- ice
- 4 ounces silver tequila
- 4 ounces watermelon juice
- 2 ounces lime juice
- 1 ounce watermelon simple syrup
- To make watermelon simple syrup: In small saucepan over medium heat, combine watermelon and sugar. Use potato masher to mash watermelon and sugar together, pushing out liquid and dissolving sugar. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour mixture through fine mesh sieve set over bowl or jar, pressing watermelon to extract all liquid. Set aside to cool completely.
- To make watermelon juice: In blender, combine watermelon and water. Blend until smooth then pour through fine mesh sieve set over bowl or jar.
- To assemble margaritas: use lime wedge to line rims of two glasses with juice. Dip glasses in coarse salt and carefully fill glasses with ice.
- Combine tequila, watermelon juice, lime juice and simple syrup in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until thoroughly chilled, about 30 seconds, and pour into prepared glasses. Garnish with lime wedges.