Description
Grilled Watermelon is a delightful summer dish combining the natural sweetness of watermelon with smoky grill marks, enhanced by a tangy lemon-honey marinade and finished with salty feta and fresh basil for a burst of flavor.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Marinade
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Main
- Vegetable oil for grill (as needed)
- 1 watermelon (5-6 pounds, cut into 1-inch thick wedges)
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta
- 1-2 tablespoons small torn basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat Grill: Preheat a gas or charcoal grill on high heat. Grease the grates thoroughly with vegetable oil to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Marinade: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Brush Watermelon: Generously brush the watermelon wedges on both sides with the lemon-honey marinade to ensure they’re well coated for maximum flavor.
- Grill Watermelon: Place the watermelon wedges on the hot grill. Cook for about 2 minutes per side or until grill marks appear and the watermelon is slightly softened but still holds its shape.
- Assemble and Serve: Arrange the grilled watermelon on a serving platter. Sprinkle evenly with crumbled feta and garnish with torn basil leaves before serving.
Notes
- Use firm, ripe watermelon for the best grilling results and to prevent sogginess.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can use a grill pan on the stovetop as an alternative.
- Adjust the honey level according to your sweetness preference.
- Fresh basil can be substituted with mint for a different herbal note.
- This recipe is best served immediately to enjoy the contrast of smoky and fresh flavors.
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
