Unique Watermelon Recipes That are Perfect for Summer in Greece
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Loading... - Emilia Salo
- 17 May 2022
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Summer in Greece means that watermelon season is in full swing, and the sweet fruits are in abundance. While they’re delicious on their own, the refreshing fruit is the basis of a number of refreshing watermelon recipes that can transport you right back to Greece.
Watermelon is a quintessential Greek food as it is served—usually gratis—at the end of a summertime dinner at tavernas all across the country. The sweet but light fruit is usually the only thing one can eat for dessert after a hearty Greek meal.
Considering that Greece now ranks sixth in the entire world market in watermelon exports, you will never run out of the ingredient for your summertime recipes if you’re in the country!
Greece now produces an impressive 204.46 million kilos (450,757,141 pounds) of watermelons, corresponding to 5.6 percent of the total exports of the succulent fruit across the globe.
Greek Watermelon Cake from the Island of Milos
This unique watermelon recipe is for karpouzopita, or watermelon cake, which is a traditional sweet from the Greek island of Milos.
Whether you eat your karpouzopita plain or garnished with a dab of Greek-style yogurt or honey, either way, you are sure to enjoy it!
This dessert is fairly low-fat, and can use either white or brown sugar, depending on how sweet you would like it to taste.
Ingredients:
¼ – ½ cup sesame seeds
2 pounds watermelon cut in cubes (about the size of walnuts)
½ cup honey + 2 tablespoons for drizzling
2 tablespoons brown sugar or white (adjust accordingly)
¾ cup flour
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
2. Remove the seeds from the watermelon. Cut in cubes about the size of a walnut. Place in colander and let it strain for about an hour. Squeeze a bit more with your hands to remove additional liquid.
3. Place the watermelon in a large bowl. Add brown sugar (or white), flour, cinnamon, ½ cup honey, and olive oil and mix well with a large spoon while trying not to break the watermelon pieces. The batter will contain some liquid.
4. Grease a cake pan with some olive oil (just to cover) and sprinkle the base with sesame seeds (enough to make a crust-like formation). Pour over the watermelon mixture and spread out evenly. Sprinkle some more sesame seeds and bake in the oven for about an hour.
5. Remove, drizzle the rest of the honey over the cake and let it cool. Serve it at room temperature, or cool it in the fridge and be sure to top it off with some Greek yogurt or honey!
Greek Watermelon Mojito—an essential watermelon recipe for hot Greek summers
Spice up your Greek hot summer nights, or if you can’t make it to Greece this summer, at least you can enjoy the vibrant colors and distinct flavors of a Greek summer with this drink.
Ingredients:
1 ½ ounces rum
4 pieces fresh Greek watermelon (or 1 oz. fresh watermelon puree)
1 ounce fresh lime juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup
3/4 ounce sparkling water
6 mint leaves and one mint sprig
Preparation:
1. In a tall mixing glass, mix watermelon and mint leaves with simple syrup. Add rum and lime juice and then fill with ice and shake vigorously.
2. Strain over fresh ice into a Collins glass. Top with sparkling water and swirl gently. Garnish with mint sprig. Enjoy!
Watermelon Feta Salad
A twist on the traditional horiatiki, or Greek salad, this refreshing watermelon and feta recipe has grown popular across Greece and Cyprus.
Although the combination of watermelon and feta cheese may seem a bit strange, the sweet and salty elements work perfectly together, creating the ultimate summer dish! Read More...
