Watermelon Rind Magic

Watermelon Rind Magic

Watermelon, like the cucumber, is edible, including the green skin and the white parts that usually end up in the bin. Watermelon rind might be less flavorful but nutritionally, they are no garbage. 

Actually the rinds might just be the most nutritionally loaded part of a melon.

Watermelon juice contains Citrulline, an amino acid and natural antioxidant. This is found more in the skin and rind than the red pulp.

Citrulline converts to Arginine, which is vital to the heart and improves circulation

Citrulline can help boost blood flow and some reports suggest it can help treat impotence. It has also been shown to help athletes reduce muscle soreness.

We always used the rind to make dosas and idlis. Then gradually I came across a lot more interesting recipes. I tried them out and they all tasted awesome. The kheer and halwa is a great hit in my house. So get on with it. Pull out your ladles and pans and get started on a new health trip. Forget about counting calories. Watch your portion size, meal timings and the placement of food items at different times of the day.

Kheer

The kheer lover will lick this up!

Ingredients

Watermelon rind (grated) – 1 cup

Milk – 1 cup (can add more)

Milk powder -  2 to 4 tbsp

Jaggery powder – ¾ cup

Broken Cashewnuts – 2 tbsp

Raisins – 2 tbsp

Salt – a pinch

Ghee – 1 tsp

Method

Heat ghee in a pan

Saute the rind in it for 2 to 3 mins

Add milk and cook it for about 10 mins till soft

Add milk powder and mix well

Remove from heat and cool

Add jaggery powder (increase or decrease according to taste)

Add the nuts and raisins and mix well

Serve chilled

Halwa

I don't have to say anything about this one. After this, I don't enjoy dudhi and gajar halwa any more. This has got too much fibre that makes me feel good

Ingredients

Watermelon rind (grated) – 1 cup

Milk – ½ to 1 cup

Milk powder - 3 to 4 tbsp

Jaggery powder – ¾ cup

Broken Cashewnuts – 2 tbsp

Raisins – 2 tbsp

Salt – a pinch

Ghee – 2 tbsp

Method

Heat milk

Add the rind. Cover and cook for about 10 mins till soft

Add milk powder and mix well

Keep stirring till the mixture becomes dry

Add jaggery powder (increase or decrease according to taste) and mix well

Add the nuts and raisins and mix well

Add ghee. Keep stirring the mixture on slow flame for about 10 mins till well roasted

Serve hot

Chutney

This is an instant and very versatile chutney. Goes with everything from bhakris and mathri to even idlis and dosa, especially when the dosas are slightly sweetened. 

Ingredients
Watermelon rind (grated) – 1 cup

Coconut oil – 1 to 1½  tbsp

Red Chilies – 2 or 3

Hing – ¼ tsp

Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tbsp

Red Chili powder – 1 tsp (vary according to taste)

jeera – 1 tsp
Jaggery powder - 1/4 cup
salt - to taste

Method
Heat oil in a pan
Add jeera, hing, ginger-garlic paste and the red chilies 
Add the grated rind, salt and chili powder and fry for about 5 mins
Add little water, cover and cook for about 15 mins till it is just tender
Add jaggery powder and mix well on low flame
Keep mixing and cooking on low flame till the mixture becomes dry and oil leaves the sides
Cool and store in the refrigerator for about a week   

Jam

If looks could kill!

Ingredients

Watermelon rind - 1 cup

Jaggery powder - 4 tbsp
Orange zest - 2 tbsp (heaped) 
juice of a quarter of a lemon

Cinnamon stick - 1

Method
Remove the green parts off the rind  and cut 
Add  enough boiling water to submerge them 
Cool and store in the frig overnight

Drain off the water reserving about 1/2 cup water
Bring it to a boil over medium heat

Lower the heat and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes

Add the jaggery powder and stir till it dissolves

Add the cinnamon, orange peel and lemon juice and cook on low heat

Stir the mix occasionally for an hour over very low heat keeping the vessel partially covered (add water if you feel the fluid is drying up before the watermelon rind is cooked through. It is cooked through when it turns translucent).

Gradually the liquid will thicken and deepen in color

Idli

You can't take away the idli from a south Indian

Ingredients

Rice – 1 cup (1/2 cup each brown and white rice)

Udad dal – 2 tbsp  cup

Rice flakes – ½ cup

Methi seeds – 1 tsp

Jaggery powder – 1 tsp

Watermelon rind – 1 or ¾ cup as required for grinding

Method
Wash and soak dal and rice together

Soak rice flakes in water 10 mins before grinding

Make a thick batter

Let it ferment for 5 to 6 hrs

Make small thick pancake like dosas

Dosa

Nothing like a healthy dosa breakfast

Ingredients

Rice – 1 cup (1/2 cup each brown and white rice)

Udad dal – 2 tbsp  cup

Rice flakes – ½ cup

Methi seeds – 1 tsp

Jaggery powder – 1 tsp

Watermelon rind – 1 or ¾ cup as required for grinding

Method

Wash and soak dal and rice together

Soak rice flakes in water 10 mins before grinding

Make a thick batter

Let it ferment for 5 to 6 hrs

Make small thick pancake like dosas

Pickle

You don't need a reason to eat this. An any-time bite

Ingredients

Watermelon rind (only the white part) – 1 cup

Apple Cider vinegar and White vinegar (I used red wine vinegar) – ¼ cup each

Jaggery powder – ¼ cup

Cinnamon – 2 pcs

Cloves – ¼ tsp

Method

Cut the rind into pieces

Soak in brine overnight

Next day, drain it and wash in water

Drain again

Combine the rest of the ingredients and boil for 5 mins

Add rind and cook for about 20 mins till it is translucent

Cool and pack rind in glass bottles

Add some of the liquid

Salad

It's just too healthy. So indulge!

Ingredients

Watermelon rind - 1 cup

Green and red capsicum - 1/2 cup

Carrots - 1/4 cup

(All veggies to be cut into thin long strips)

Balsamic vinegar - 11/2 tbsp

Method

Mix all the veggies

Add balsamic vinegar and mix slowly

Serve cold 

Pulao

A healthy variation to the usual pulao

Ingredients

Brown rice (cooked) - 1/2 cup

Watermelon rind (pieces) -  1 cup

Green peas - 1/2 cup
Capsicum (red and green) - 1/2 cup
Water - 1/2 cup
Oil or ghee - 1 tbsp
Mixed garam masala (whole) - 1 piece each

Method

Heat 1/2 tbsp oil

Add the whole spices

Add vegetables and little salt

Cook till the veggies are just tender

Heat 1/2 tbsp oil

Saute the capsicum

Add cooked veggies and mix well

Add brown rice and mix carefully

Serve with curd and curry of your choice

Smoothie

A sure-shot winner in this heat

Ingredients

Watermelon rind (small pieces) -  1 cup

Mango pieces - 1/2 cup

Dates – 3 or 4
Water - 1/4 or 1/2 cup
Method

Blend them all in a mixie

Serve chilled

Fritters

Enjoy it guilt-free with a cup of tea or coffee for breakfast or a 5 pm snack

Ingredients

Watermelon rind (grated) - 1 cup

Besan - 1/2 cup (Quantity of besan and oats will vary slightly depending on the moisture content of the rind)

Oats - 1/2 cup

Green chilies - 2

Fresh coriander leaves - 1 tbsp

Salt - to taste

Method

Combine grated rind with all the ingredients

Coat an appe pan with little oil

Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into each cavity

Cover the pan

pour a drop of oil on each fritter and flip it over

Let it cook till crisp 

Parantha

You can't go wrong with this

Ingredients

Watermelon rind (grated) - 1 cup

Wholewheat flour - 1 cup (Quantity will vary depending on the moisture content of the rind)

Green chilies and garlic (crushed) - 2 tbsp

Fresh coriander leaves - 1 tbsp

Salt - to taste

Method

Combine grated rind with all the ingredients except flour

Add flour gradually to form a dough

Let it rest for 10 mins

Roll out to make paranthas

Fry with little ghee on either sides till crisp

Serve hot with a bowl of fresh curds for breakfast 

Sabzi

Goes really well with steamed brown rice, dal and fresh curds. My comfort food!

Ingredients

Watermelon rind (pieces) – 1 cup

Ginger – garlic paste – 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds – ½ tsp

Cumin seeds (jeera) – ½ tsp

Methi seeds – ½ tsp

Hing – ¼ to  ½ tsp

Green chilies (slit) – 2

Red chili powder – 1 to 2 tsp

Turmeric powder (haldi) – ¼ tsp

Oil – 1 tsp

Coriander leaves (for garnish) – 1 tbsp

Method

Heat oil

Add jeera and methi seeds

When they splutter add ginger– garlic paste, hing and green chilies

Add the rind and mix well

Add salt and chili powder according to taste

Add little water and cook on medium heat for about 20 mins till done

Garnish with coriander leaves