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Fried watermelon is a tasty way to change your healthy watermelon treat into an even tastier but not-so-healthy one. In recent years, this treat has been turning up at county fairs and other events, sometimes on a stick, sometimes in a cup or bowl. It's tasty and you'll be tempted to come back for more! And just so you don't waste that rind, there's a recipe to fry it as well.
Ingredients
Deep fried watermelon:
- 1 watermelon (3-3.5 kg/6 - 8 lb), seedless preferred
- 2 large egg whites
- 2 teaspoons water
- 3/4 cup all-purpose/plain flour
- 1/4 cup pure cornstarch
- 3 cups of oil suitable for deep frying (for example, canola oil)
- Sprinkling of powdered confectioners/icing sugar, to garnish
Fried watermelon rind:
- 2 cups of watermelon rind, cubed
- 1/3 cup cornmeal
- 1/3 cup all-purpose/plain flour
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1 cup vegetable oil suitable for frying
Steps
Deep fried watermelon
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1Cut the watermelon in half, down its length. Then cut each half in half, again cutting down the length.[1]
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2Place the four wedges on a board for cutting. Cut off the rind from each wedge.[2] Keep this rind for deep fried rind below.Advertisement
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3Cut the watermelon into slices about 2.5cm/1 inch thick. Then cut each slice into cubes, sticks or triangles. You might even go fancy and use a cookie cutter to cut out special shapes like stars or sheep.
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4Prepare the batter. Beat the egg whites. Add the cornstarch and water to the beaten eggs and whisk together well. When it's smooth, it's ready to dip with.[3]
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5Heat oil in a deep fryer. Heat to 180ºC/350ºF.[4]
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6Roll each watermelon piece in the flour, to coat.
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7Dip the watermelon pieces into the batter. Cover completely with batter.[5]
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8Place the dipped pieces into the deep fryer. Don't add too many at once or they won't fry properly. About 3-4 pieces at a time is a good amount.
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9Fry until the batter turns golden brown. Lift the pieces out with a slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper to drain the grease.[6]
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10Sprinkle liberally with powdered confectioners/icing sugar.
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11Serve. The fried watermelon pieces can be served in a bowl or on a plate. Or, you can stick them onto a popsicle stick or skewer (cut off the pointy ends before using) for the fairground version.
- Warn anyone eating these treats that they'll be pretty hot inside, as watermelon has a high water content and this will be bubbling around inside after frying.
Fried watermelon rind
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1Cube the watermelon rind. Cubes of about 2.5cm/1 inch are perfect.[7]
- Alternatively, some people like to make wedge-like shapes from the rind. This can be a more substantial treat.
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2Make the coating. In a mixing bowl, mix together the cornmeal and flour. Add salt and pepper to taste.
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3Heat the oil in a wok or heavy-based skillet.[8]
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4Dip and roll each rind piece in the coating.
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5Add the rind pieces. Fry for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir and fry for a further 4-5 minutes until golden brown all over.[9]
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6Use a slotted spoon to lift the fried rind pieces out. Place on kitchen towel to drain.
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7Serve. Although not as watery as the deep fried watermelon, the rind will still be hot, so eat with care.
- The fried rinds can also be served on a stick for a fairground feel.
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I do this recipe in an air fryer?Community AnswerNo, you wouldn't be able to do this recipe in an air fryer since you need to use batter.
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QuestionHow many calories per serving is this?Community AnswerThere are about 641 calories. That's only because of the deep fried part. I would not recommend this if you're on a diet.
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QuestionIf I don't have a deep fryer, can I use a frying pan?Community AnswerFill a saucepan with approx. 500ml oil and follow the recipe from there. It should work!
Warnings
- Deep fried watermelon is not suitable for children until you are absolutely sure that it has cooled right down before eating.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Best consumed as a once-in-a-while treat, as it's not so healthy.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Cutting board and knife
- Deep bowl
- Whisk
- Deep fryer
- Slotted spoon
- Kitchen paper towel
- Tea strainer (optional)
- Heavy based skillet or wok
- Skewer or popsicle sticks (optional, for a fairground feel)
References
- ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/article/how-to-cut-watermelon/
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cut-up-a-watermelon-step-by-step-tutorial-221100
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/fried-watermelon-bites-recipe
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/fried-watermelon-bites-recipe
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBm1gd5sLZs
- ↑ https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/side/vegetable/deep-fried-watermelon.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46BB1ZHxUN0
- ↑ http://www.watermelonrind.com/deep-fried-watermelon-rinds-recipe.html
- ↑ https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/recipes/fried-watermelon-rinds/
- Rinds recipe adapted from: http://www.whataboutwatermelon.com/index.php/2010/09/recipe-fried-watermelon-rinds/