Description
Grilled Watermelon is a refreshing and unique summer dish that combines the natural sweetness and juiciness of watermelon with smoky grill marks. Finished with a tangy lemon-honey dressing, crumbled feta cheese, and fresh basil, this recipe offers a delightful balance of sweet, savory, and fresh flavors perfect for a light appetizer or side dish.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Watermelon and Marinade
- 1 watermelon (5-6 pounds, cut into 1-inch thick wedges)
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for grill
Toppings
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta
- 1-2 tablespoons small basil leaves, torn
Instructions
- Preheat Grill: Preheat a gas or charcoal grill on high heat. Lightly grease the grill grates with vegetable oil to prevent sticking.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and zest, honey, olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Marinate Watermelon: Brush the watermelon wedges generously on both sides with the lemon-honey dressing to infuse them with flavor.
- Grill Watermelon: Place the watermelon wedges on the hot grill. Grill for about 2 minutes per side until grill marks appear and the watermelon is slightly softened but still holds shape.
- Assemble and Serve: Arrange the grilled watermelon wedges on a serving platter. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the top and garnish with torn fresh basil leaves before serving.
Notes
- Use a ripe, seedless watermelon for easiest cutting and best sweetness.
- If you don’t have access to a grill, you can use a grill pan or broiler to achieve similar results.
- The feta cheese adds a salty contrast, but you can substitute with goat cheese or omit for a vegan option.
- For extra flavor, add a sprinkle of chili flakes or a drizzle of balsamic glaze before serving.
- Make sure to grill briefly to avoid melting the watermelon too much; it should be warm with nice char marks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 236 kcal
- Sugar: 41 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 4 mg
