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Cooked Watermelon Rind

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Recipe ingredients:

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nowayjosecuisine558.233 months agoWaivio2 min read

Watermelon rind is an underappreciated delicacy that boasts an impressive range of nutrients and is rich in fiber. Often discarded, this part of the watermelon can be cooked in various delightful and healthy ways. The following recipe transforms the rind into a versatile ingredient ready to be added to salads, soups, stir-fries, or stews.

Ingredients

🍉 The rind of a small watermelon
🧄 3-4 garlic cloves
🧅 1 shallot or 1/4 onion
🌶️ 1 jalapeño
🌿 1 tbsp of Mexican oregano
🌱 2-3 stems with leaves of dried or fresh epazote
🧂 Salt to taste

Instructions

1- Prepare the Rind:

Start by thoroughly washing the watermelon with a brush. Afterward, slice the watermelon, saving the juicy pulp for other uses. Depending on your texture preference, you can peel off the skin using a potato peeler for a softer result, or leave it on for added crunch.

2- Chop and Combine:

Dice the watermelon rind into small, manageable pieces. Place them into a pot along with the garlic cloves, chopped shallot or onion, jalapeño, Mexican oregano, and epazote.

3- Cook:

Pour in enough water to cover the ingredients and bring the pot to a high heat. Allow it to cook for about 25 minutes. This will give the rind a texture similar to chayote squash, without losing too much of its crunchiness.

4- Finish:

After cooking, remove the jalapeño and epazote from the pot. Drain the water and let the watermelon rind cool down.

5- Storage:

Once cooled, transfer the cooked rind into a ziplock bag or an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator, where it can last up to 10 days.

Cooking Tips

To enhance the dish, experiment with different spices or seasonings based on your preferences.
This recipe is great for adding to a variety of dishes. It pairs excellently with scrambled eggs, like nopales, or can be mixed with meat, salsas, or salads.