Whattey melon! Here’s how you can include watermelon in your everyday life this summer

21/05/2018

What could one love more than a big juicy slice of watermelon in the peak of summers? An assortment of drinks, coolers and other edibles made out of the fruit, of course. It’s time to give a makeover to this summer fruit with these innovative ideas. From freezing freshly squeezed watermelon juice in ice cubes to making pitchers out of the fruit’s shell, there’s so much one can innovate with. You can also make bold fashion statements by sporting fruit-prints and accessories inspired by watermelon. Plus, there’s hardly a better fruit than watermelon when it comes to cooling and soothing the skin in the peak of summers. Here are some tips to get your melon on!
Watermelon Keg: This is a cool way to serve drinks at your next house party. “Wash and clean the surface of the watermelon. Make a mark on one end of the fruit and cut from the top. Scoop out all the pulp and using paper towels, pat dry the insides. At the other end, make a small hole that matches the size of the tap. Once the keg is ready, you can pour any cocktail of your liking and start serving,” says Chef Noah Barnes of Arriba-Mexican Grill & Tequileria. The keg can be used for about 4 hours.
Watermelon sandwich: In the mood for something filling, yet refreshing? How about a sandwich made of watermelon slices? Chop some arugula leaves and crumbled feta cheese. Top with some lime juice, chaat masala and close with another slice.
Fruit party in a bowl: Now, serve the goodness of fruits, inside a fruit. Cut a watermelon in half and carve a zig-zag pattern along the circumference. Scoop out the pulp with the help of an ice cream scoop. Now, take an assortment of fruits like mangoes, kiwis, peaches and berries, chop them up and fill the watermelon bowl. Top with some mint leaves and lemon juice.
Watermelon skewers: Cut up bite-sized squares or scoop roundels of watermelon. Dice some feta cheese, and cut a handful of blueberries in halves. Take a skewer, and begin by stacking a piece of watermelon, mint leaf, berry, and lastly feta. Drizzle with some balsamic reduction.
Watermelon ice cubes: Tired of drinks and cocktails getting too watery given the amount of ice cubes you put in them? To add more flavour to the drinks you serve at a party, freeze some freshly squeezed watermelon juice in ice cubes. Make a drink of your choice and add these ice cubes instead of regular ones.
Watermelon sushi: How about sushis with a fruity twist this summer? “Watermelon sushi can be made using chunks of the fruit, feta and cream cheese rolled with sushi rice and topped up with watermelon salsa,” says Inderjeet Singh Banga of Pra Pra Prank.
Watermelon yogurt parfait: In a mason jar, spread a layer of granola, followed by some watermelon chunks and top it up Greek yogurt. Crush some more granola on top, add two-three dollops of yogurt and serve.
Watermelon pizza: Slice a watermelon into triangles about 2 inches thick. Spread some goat cheese and top with fruits like sliced bananas and blueberries, pomegranates and some mint leaves. Serve cold.
Watermelon popsicles: In a bowl, mix freshly squeezed watermelon and orange juice, and granulated sugar. Separately, muddle some mint leaves with lemon juice. Combine the two and freeze in popsicle moulds. More adventurous ones can add a few dashes of vodka to the mix.
Watermelon goblets: Give your routine serving ware a break and put the watermelon shell to some creative use. “Watermelon shell can be used to serve drinks. Scoop out some watermelon from the shell (you can use this separately to make mocktails), just enough to make room for your drink and slurppp,” says mixologist Shiv Thakur of Nukkad Cafe and Bar.
Beauty: Watermelons are good for exfoliating the skin and are considered as natural toners. “They protect skin from sun damage, moisturise it to make you look fresh and young,” says beauty expert Blossom Kochhar. Moreover, it can also be used on the hair as it promotes hair growth. “Watermelon pulp can be applied on the hair as it contains amino acids. It also has a cleansing action and promotes blood circulation to the hair follicles. Make sure to wash off after half an hour,” shares beauty expert Shahnaz Husain. The versatile fruit works well for everyone, too. “It suits all skin types. It moisturises oily skin, without making it oily and closes the pores,” adds Husain.
Beauty experts Shahnaz Husain and Blossom Kochhar share some easy-to-make and use home recipes for skincare:
Hydrate, Heal and Exfoliate: Take watermelon juice and yogurt. Mix them together. Apply this face pack on your face and neck. Leave it on for minimum ten minutes and then rinse it off with cold water.
Tone: Apply chilled watermelon juice on the face with cotton wool. It tightens the skin, making it firm and adds a glow.
Ta-Ta Tan: Mix equal portions of watermelon and cucumber pulp mask on your face to remove sun tan. It heals sunburns and evens out your complexion.
Refresh: To get a cool, clean and young look, take one cup of watermelon pulp and apply it on your face and neck.
Anti-Ageing: Mix 1 tbsp watermelon juice with 1 tbsp mashed avocado. Apply this mixture on the face and neck. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and wash it off with cold water.
Flaunt the fruit (print): While fruit prints have been dominating the international fashion circuits, they are yet to make a splash here. From pineapples and lemons to cherries and watermelons, fruit prints, miniscule or bold, make a quirky and cool statement. Use it on tees, earrings, and even clutches.

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