By Nanette Wiser
Seedless watermelon is the ultimate refresher, good for your body and delicious in a salad or a martini or frozen in ice cube trays for cocktails.
It’s also healthy. Watermelon is rich in lycopene, an antioxidant linked to decreased risk of cancer, heart disease and age-related eye disorders. It also is rich in citrulline, an amino acid that helps move blood through your body and may lower your blood pressure. Because 90% of a watermelon’s weight is water, it’s one of the best fruits for weight loss; a 100-gram serving contains only 30 calories.
WATERMELON FETA SALAD Cube and strain watermelon while prepping other ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients together, then set aside. Add the cubed watermelon and fresh mint to a large bowl. Toss dressing, transfer to salad and crumble cheese on top. Mangia!
Salad Ingredients: 6 cups cubed watermelon, 4 oz. crumbled feta, crumbled, ½ cup fresh chopped mint
Dressing Ingredients: 2 tbsp. olive oil, juice of 1.5 limes, ½ tsp sea salt, ¼ tsp black pepper
WATERMELON MARTINI To make the watermelon juice, blend, and strain. (Freeze the fruit pulp in ice pop trays for a refreshing snack). Combine vodka, watermelon juice, cranberry juice, lime juice, simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and slice of watermelon
Ingredients: 1.5 oz vodka (I like Grey Goose, Stoly), 1 oz. watermelon juice, .25 oz. cranberry juice, .25 oz. fresh lime juice, .25 oz. Simple Syrup