8 hydrating and interesting dishes you can make with watermelon

The season for watermelon is here and the red hues of this summer fruit always tempt the taste buds. Made up of 92% of water, it is also full of nutrients. The best thing is that apart from fruit, it can be converted into many culinary treats worth enjoying summer months. It has good amounts of vitamin A, B6 and vitamin C, along with lots of lycopene, antioxidants and amino acids, which makes this quintessential summer fruit a must-have. Here we have listed eight hydrating and interesting dishes you can make with watermelon during summer months.

This one evokes pure nostalgia, where watermelon chunks blend with spices and are frozen and burst with flavours. To make this, cut the watermelon into halves and scoop out the flesh in a bowl. Remove all the seeds. Transfer the flesh into a blender and puree it. Add chaat masala, black pepper, black salt and cumun powder. Stir well. Fill 3/4 of the ice-lolly molds and put in ice-cream sticks. Freeze overnight. Delicious popsicles are ready. Enjoy!

This is a hydrating summer salad that combines melons with zesty flavours. Gain all the goodness of these hydrating fruits and call it a happy lunch hour. Take watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc., cut them into dices and gently toss them along with the lime zest, lime juice and grated ginger. Also, add a hint of pepper, honey or maple syrup. Mix well and this salad is to be served immediately for the best experience.

This is a very refreshing summer drinks that blends the goodness of lemonade and watermelon. Cut 1 large watermelon into halves and scoop up the flesh. Transfer the flesh to a bowl and remove the black seeds. Take a sieve and mash the watermelon flesh through it into a bowl. Pour it into a blender along with lemon juice and sugar. Blend to make a puree and then, add in 1 bottle of soda. Add ice cubes in a glass and fill it with lemonade mixture, garnish with mint and lime slices. Serve the refreshing drink fresh and enjoy.

This salad is for those who love the charred texture and flavour and to make it, first your need to heat the grill to 250°C. Slice watermelon and cheese of your choice and arrange them in a baking tray. In a bowl, combine 3 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp chopped ginger and 1/2 tsp salt. Pour this mixture over the cheese and watermelon slices in the baking tray. Turn each piece to coat properly. Chill it for 30 minutes and then grill for 2 to 4 minutes or until each side is golden brown. Arrange watermelon and cheese slices on a plate along with ice bergs and lettuce and add some more lemon juice on too and chilli oil. Enjoy!

This is a healthy and hydrating dip that you can enjoy with vegetable slices and even pita bread or crackers. Finely chop 200 grams of watermelon, 2 shallots and coriander. Combine everything with the juice of half a lemon and 2 tbsp olive oil. Add salt and pepepr and a bit of paprika or peri peri powder. Mix well and serve with sides of your choice.

This is one of the most popular watermelon salad dishes. For this, chop 200 grams of watermelon and 1/2 cucumber into medium-sized chunks. Put them in a bowl with a handful of mint leaves and drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil. Transfer it to a serving plate and crumble 100 grams of feta cheese over it and drizzle with 1 tbsp balsamic glaze before serving and enjoy it fresh.

Iced tea often make for a good choice during summer and what's better than converting your watermelon into one. Boil 8 cups of water and transfer it to a heat-resistant glass pitcher or bowl. Add 8 tea bags to it and wait for 10 minutes. After that, remove the bags and discard, stir in some sugar if you want and let the tea cool at room temperature. Refrigerate it. When its time to serve, add chopped watermelon and basil leaves. Serve chilled.

This is an extension of the famous Mohabbat ka Sherbat, where you have to blend 2 cups of watermelon along with 4 cups of full-fat chilled milk. Also add rose syrup and some chunks of watermelon. Blend in powdered sugar and then pour the mixture into ice cream moulds. Freeze overnight and your creamy and velvety icecream is ready. Enjoy!