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
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Deep fried watermelon

  1. 1
    Cut the watermelon in half, down its length. Then cut each half in half, again cutting down the length.[1]
  2. 2
    Place the four wedges on a board for cutting. Cut off the rind from each wedge.[2] Keep this rind for deep fried rind below.
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  3. 3
    Cut 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.
  4. 4
    Prepare 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]
  5. 5
    Heat oil in a deep fryer. Heat to 180ºC/350ºF.[4]
  6. 6
    Roll each watermelon piece in the flour, to coat.
  7. 7
    Dip the watermelon pieces into the batter. Cover completely with batter.[5]
  8. 8
    Place 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.
  9. 9
    Fry until the batter turns golden brown. Lift the pieces out with a slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper to drain the grease.[6]
  10. 10
    Sprinkle liberally with powdered confectioners/icing sugar.
  11. 11
    Serve. 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.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Fried watermelon rind

  1. 1
    Cube 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.
  2. 2
    Make the coating. In a mixing bowl, mix together the cornmeal and flour. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  3. 3
    Heat the oil in a wok or heavy-based skillet.[8]
  4. 4
    Dip and roll each rind piece in the coating.
  5. 5
    Add 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]
  6. 6
    Use a slotted spoon to lift the fried rind pieces out. Place on kitchen towel to drain.
  7. 7
    Serve. 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.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can I do this recipe in an air fryer?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, you wouldn't be able to do this recipe in an air fryer since you need to use batter.
  • Question
    How many calories per serving is this?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    There are about 641 calories. That's only because of the deep fried part. I would not recommend this if you're on a diet.
  • Question
    If I don't have a deep fryer, can I use a frying pan?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Fill a saucepan with approx. 500ml oil and follow the recipe from there. It should work!
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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⧽
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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)

Relateds

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 112,673 times.
90 votes - 76%
Co-authors: 6
Updated: December 16, 2019
Views: 112,673
Categories: Watermelons
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