Are you sizzling? Is that pool of water next to you , in fact, your own sweat?
Yeah, I feel you.....stupid heat wave.
During these long extended periods of heat and humidity, my body starts to revolt. I get bitchy, by skin get itchy, my head goes foggy, my stomach starts to refuse food. and I generally just feel like crap. I love the summer, but I am not, by any means, a hot, high humidity person.
So during this nasty bout of heat, I do what I can to find comfort. And one of my comforts is watermelon. I am pretty sure that watermelon is a magical fruit. A giant green oblong ball that when cracked open is the brightest, sweetest bright pink fruit.. I mean, thats pretty f ing magical. It can make anything better, and is one of the few things that I want to eat when its a million degrees outside without barfing.
Watermelon is my official heatwave food. Watermelon all day long (Is it bad that I could literally eat an entire watermelon all to my face, in one sitting? ) And because I am me, I like to spice it up a bit and slather a big glob of basil pesto to the melon…. and that makes me happy. Plus it makes the fact that I am eating nothing but melon seem a little more substantial.
Do you have a heatwave food? If not, try this….It will be your food.
The stuff. A big hunk of watermelon, basil, a lemon, olive oil and salt.
Stick the basil, the juice of the lemon, and a pinch of salt into a blender. Turn on and blend, adding just a tad bit of olive oil until a nice green pesto is made.
Prepare your melon. Remove rinds if you want and save for later.. (seriously, we can make gazpacho with it) and cut into inch thick chunks.
And now if your feeling it, stick a skillet on the stove and preheat on medium high. Once heated, place watermelon chunks on hot skillet and sear each side for about 3-5 minutes per side.
If you want to go fresh, just skip searing it. Me, I do a bowl of both.
And now slather the melon with the pesto
And go to town
Stay cool my friends!
-C
Seared (or not) Watermelon with Basil Pesto
- Watermelon
- a bunch of basil
- a lemon
- salt
- olive oil
Place basil, a pinch of salt and the juice of the lemon into a blender. Turn on and blend, adding in a drizzle of olive oil until pesto forms.
Preheat a lightly oiled skillet (or a grill) on medium high heat. Take your watermelon and remove rinds (save for later) and cut into inch chunks.* When heated, add the watermelon. LEt each side sear for 3-5 minutes, or until caramelized. Tarnsfrer to a bowl.
*Note. The seared melon is fantastic cooked then cooled. Also, I know some people blot out the juice before grilling, but I think that is a waste and I find unnecessary, but if you don't want a juicy piece of cooke melon, by all means, blot out the juice..
Or if you don't want to cook it, don't
And lastly, toss in a big giant scoop of pesto
Now eat… eat eat eat.