Summer is here, and with the rise in temperature comes the need for refreshing and cool snacks. And what better way to cool down and refresh yourself than incorporating watermelon in your diet? Sit back and relax as we show you how to make some of the tastiest watermelon dishes.

Here are a few interesting ways you can incorporate watermelon into your meals.

Watermelon rind chutney

One of the most popular watermelon dishes, the watermelon rind chutney is enjoyed best with your main meals as well as with Puri or Paratha. Watermelon rind is the white part of the watermelon and is used to make sabzi as well as chutney. In a big pot, dry roast two pieces of bay leaves until it starts giving out an aroma. Add watermelon rind (six cups), sugar, ginger, chilli flakes, salt and lemon juice. Stir well and cook on a low flame. Let it simmer a couple of times until the mix becomes thick and syrupy. Cool it down, serve yourself to some watermelon rind chutney and then store it in a jar for future use.

Grilled watermelon and basil salad

This is a fairly simple recipe when you’re craving something cool and refreshing. All you need to do is cut the watermelon into inch long slabs and brush them with some olive oil, and heat them cut side down on the grill for a couple of minutes per side. When they get warm, you can remove them, cut off the rind and chop them into small cubes (or not) as per choice. Now you can add basil, salt, pepper and some lime juice to the grilled watermelon. Drizzle the salad with some balsamic glaze, and you’re good to go!

Watermelon salsa

A very easy to prepare summer delicacy, the watermelon salsa is sweet and mildly spicy, and oh so yummy! All you need is a watermelon, some pepper, onion and balsamic vinegar, and of course, you can add hotter chillies as per your wish. All you need to do is mix two cups of seeded and coarsely chopped watermelon with two tablespoons of chopped onion, three tablespoons chopped chillies, two tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and a pinch of garlic and salt. Mix all ingredients well, cover the bowl and refrigerate for an hour.

Watermelon and mint granita

This recipe is surely going to make your hot summer days a little better with its refreshing taste. You probably already know how to make the thirst-quenching watermelon mojito. Now you can ace “watermelon and mint granita” by following these few simple steps. Place watermelon in a blender and blend until smooth. Meanwhile, add water, maple sugar and vanilla extract in a saucepan and heat till the sugar has dissolved. Now add this into the blended watermelon along with some lemon zest, lemon juice and mint leaves. Blend some more until it is smooth, then pour the mixture into a dish and freeze for three to four hours. Serve straight out of the freezer, and enjoy your summer days!

Do you know of any other watermelon dishes? Share in the comment section below.