Easy Fermented Watermelon Rind Recipe
Fermented watermelon rind is an interesting and tasty way to make use of the leftovers from a delicious summertime snack. Many of us are familiar with the sweet and juicy taste of the flesh of a watermelon, but the rind – the tough, white, and often bitter outer layer – is often discarded. Fermenting watermelon rind – indeed fermenting any fruit – can help to bring out its unique flavour and make it a delicious addition to any meal. In this blog post, we’ll explore the health benefits and the taste of this unique food, provide some ideas for how you can incorporate it into your cooking as well as our favourite recipe.
Why Watermelon Rind?
Watermelon rind is an often overlooked part of the fruit, but is a great fruit part to ferment. But it is an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and zinc. Fermenting the rind can help to increase the levels of beneficial bacteria. This can help to improve gut health and digestion. Not only that but fermenting watermelon rind also adds a delicious and unique flavour to dishes, as well as a tangy and slightly sour note.
Except for me, our family is a family of watermelon lovers. I think this is because my wife is Hungarian, and comes from a country famous for its ‘Dinye’. Travel any rural roads in Hungary during the summer months and you’ll find stalls every couple of miles selling their famous watermelon. You can certainly see why, when the mercury regularly hits the high 30s and the melon provides a welcome and sweet thirst quencher. Throughout both pregnancies, she feasted on watermelon and I think the kids OD’d on them whilst in the womb.
Zero Waste
Although we regularly put the rinds and skin in the compost bin, it was only when we discovered you could ferment them did we appreciate we could use all of the melon – we’d already taken to collecting the seeds and roasting them to make the most of their nutritional benefits.
And certainly, fermented watermelon rind is a great way to reduce food waste and adopt a zero-waste lifestyle. Eating fermented watermelon rind is an easy way to get creative in the kitchen and reduce your food waste at the same time. The fermentation process preserves the rind, meaning it can be stored for several months without spoiling. This makes it a great ingredient to have on hand and use in a variety of dishes, from salads to sandwiches to soups. We love using it with ‘fasirt’ (a Hungarian meatloaf) alongside ‘alma paprika’.
Not only is fermented watermelon rind a sustainable way to reduce food waste, but it is also a delicious and nutritious food. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it can be added to a variety of dishes to provide a unique flavour and boost the nutrient content. The fermentation process also helps to break down some of the compounds in the rind, making it easier to digest and absorb the nutrients it contains. We keep the outer green skin in our ferment, but this is a personal preference.
What are the Health Benefits of Fermented Watermelon Rind?
Fermented watermelon rind is a great addition to any diet, as it is rich in dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics. Dietary fibre can help to improve digestion and reduce the risk of constipation, while vitamins and minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and B6 provide essential nutrients for the body. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help to boost the immune system, while the anti-inflammatory properties of fermented watermelon rind can also help to reduce inflammation in the body.
In addition to its nutritional benefits, fermented watermelon rind can also help to regulate blood sugar levels. This is due to the fact it is low in sugar and has a low glycaemic index. This makes it an ideal food for those who are looking to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Fermented watermelon rind is a source of antioxidants. This can help to protect the body from damage caused by free radicals.
What are the Best Ways to Use Fermented Watermelon Rind?
Summer is here and it’s time to get creative with your food! Fermented watermelon rind is a delicious and nutritious way to add an extra zesty kick to your dishes. If you’re looking for a light and refreshing summer salad or a flavoursome accompaniment to your favourite dish. Then fermented watermelon rind is the perfect addition.
Refreshing Summer Salad
To make a light and refreshing summer salad, chop fermented watermelon rind into cubes. Add it to your favourite leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, avocado and feta cheese. To make it even more fragrant try incorporating fermented lemon! The combination of sweet and sour flavours make this salad the perfect accompaniment to any summer BBQ.
A Sumptuous Smoothy
If you’re looking for a unique addition to your smoothie, then fermented watermelon rind is the perfect choice. Simply add a few cubes of fermented watermelon rind for a zesty kick to your favourite smoothie.
A Pleasing Pickle
For a delicious pickle to accompany your favourite dishes, why not make a fermented watermelon rind pickle? Add the fermented rind with garlic, chilli, coriander and a splash of apple cider vinegar to create a delicious pickle.
A Sassy Stir Fry
Fermented watermelon rind can also be added to a stir-fry for a unique flavour. Add the cubes of fermented watermelon rind at the end of cooking. You don’t want to add at the same time as your vegetables as this will kill the probiotics. The result is a delicious stir-fry with a unique zingy flavour.
A Zingy Salsa
Finally, you can make a refreshing and zingy fermented watermelon rind salsa to serve alongside tacos. Simply add a few cubes of fermented watermelon rind to chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic, chilli and coriander. Serve with tacos or nachos for an extra zesty kick.
So what are you waiting for, get your watermelon and fermenting jar and get fermenting!
Funky Fermented Watermelon Rinds
Equipment
- 1 2 litre fermenting jar
- 1 kitchen scale
Ingredients
- 960 ml filtered water
- 40 grams organic sea salt
- 860 grams watermelon rind
- 10 stems fresh mint
- 3 inch fresh ginger
Instructions
- Wash and sanitise all equipment and clean the ingredients
- Stir the salt into the water to create the brine40 grams organic sea salt, 960 ml filtered water
- Chop the watermelon rind into 2cm square chunks (I like to keep the skin on, but you can peel it off)860 grams watermelon rind
- Peel the ginger (kitchen hack – use a teaspoon to scrape the skin off) and then slice up into 5mm thick pieces. Remove the mint leaves from the stems – you can use the stems to make a fresh mint tea to drink.10 stems fresh mint, 3 inch fresh ginger
- Layer up the watermelon rind with ginger and mint leaves in the fermenting jar
- Add the brine to the jar and weigh down the watermelon rinds to ensure they're submerged. Put the lid on and place in a cool dark cupboard.
- Leave for 5 days and taste. If it's to your liking store in the fridge, otherwise keep checking each day. Once happy with the taste and texture then keep in the fridge
Further recipes to try
If you enjoyed this fermented recipe, then try out some of our others:
- Fermented Tomatoes: Unlock their Benefits
- Citrus fruit: taste bombs for any occasion
- Easy Fermented Cherries Recipe: Make Your Cherries Pop