The first thing to note about this recipe is that not everyone will enjoy this. It is purely a love-or-hate relationship. Even I have to admit that I'm not a huge fan. Why did I decide to post this recipe then? Well because I know people who absolutely love it! For me, I opt out of grilling the watermelon but follow the same recipe - the choice is up to you. I say try everything once though...
TIPS
1. Marinate your watermelon in a ziplock bag. This allows for the marinade to more evenly spread across all pieces without having to make gallons of the stuff just to cover it all.
2. Make sure your BBQ is scorching hot when you place your watermelon slices on it. The less time your fruit spends on the BBQ, the better - all you want is a quick sear, enough for grill marks but not enough so the fruit steams. If you have the slices on for more than 2 minutes a slide, they loose their crunch and become soft and somewhat slimy (gross).
Vodka Soaked Grilled Watermelon
Ingredients
- 1 Medium Watermelon
- 1/4 cup vodka
- 4 limes, juiced
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 4 oz feta cheese
- 8-10 basil leaves
- Salt
Directions
- Step 1 Cut watermelon either into 1 inch slices (with the rind on) or strips (rind off). The cut will not affect the taste, just the presentation so the choice is yours! I cut mine into strips merely as my fridge was quite full and I didn't have a lot of space.
- Step 2 Mix together the vodka, lime juice and olive oil. Pour over your sliced watermelon and let marinate at least 30 minutes (ideally overnight).
- Step 3 Preheat your grill as hot as it can go. You are only looking for a char on both sides of your watermelon - you don't want it to "cook" as it will get too soft.
- Step 4 Place marinated watermelon on the hottest part of the BBQ for 2 minutes on each side (just enough to get a char and the outside starts to caramelize). Remove and set on your serving plate.
- Step 5 --NOTE: If you prefer your watermelon fresh, you can skip this step completely--
- Step 6 Sprinkle grilled watermelon with feta, basil and a dash of salt. Serve warm.
