Now smoke it. Photo: Sepia Times/Sepia Times/Universal Images Gro It is now August, which means it is time to ask: Have you grilled a watermelon? Have you smoked one? Sous-vide one? If not, why not?
The concept of “hot watermelon” is not new, exactly, but like a watermelon dropped by fraternal brothers off a balcony, the trend has, in recent years, exploded. “Grilled watermelon may seem like a culinary joke, something esoteric that experimental chefs create in high-end restaurants to titillate jaded diners’ palates,” wrote Juliane Glatz in the Illinois Times, back in 2011. “But trust me, it’s not at all weird to eat.
These slabs of cooked watermelon might be called “watermelon steaks,” although the Wikipedia page for watermelon steak cautions that “watermelon is not a nutritional substitute for traditional steak,” on account of being watermelon. It is possible that the novelty of hot watermelon would have remained exclusive to avant-garde restaurants and backyard BBQs were it not for the 2018 advent of the smoked watermelon ham. The brainchild of Ducks Eatery chef and co-owner Will Horowitz, the smoked watermelon ham was a sensation. It was also exactly what it sounded like: A ham. Made out of watermelon. It turns out hamming a watermelon is not a simple or quick process.
If you want your mind blown, try a watermelon with bread as a chaser. Yes. The dark rye kind. It is super weird and delightful.
YUM!
It has been a Watermelon 🍉 summer for me !!
This makes as much sense as grilled romaine lettuce which is one of the worst things I’ve ever tasted. Just gross.
Would increase the sugar content I would think. It's lovely stuff though-about 80 cents a lb here.