My Watermelon Pickle Crawl

[Recipe File]

My G-Ma used to make me Watermelon Pickles, as a child. Now as an adult, I would like to make them for myself. I have tried some from my local farmer's market and was sadly disappointed. Any recipes or ideas? I would give anything to have that "taste" memory again! Thanks ya'll!

[Christa Nelson]

hi Natalie.......i had never heard of watermelon pickles until your post, so i googled it, and there were lots of recipes which all were pretty much the same idea........here's a recipe that's nicely presented http://lillianscupboard.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/moms-blue-ribbon-w...

[Renee Bourassa]

Up until I started canning and searching for canning recipes I had never even heard of watermelon pickles. To be honest, they sound a little strange but I would still love to try them (that's my food philosophy in a nutshell:)...let me know if you find a great recipe. I wouldn't want my first watermelon pickles to be bad only because of the recipe.

[Omega Farms]

My grandmother used to make them. Unfortunately, her recipe book fell victim to a fire a few years ago. I will email family & see if any of them have her recipe. :-)

[Christa Nelson]

the garden watermelons keep coming, so i thought i'd finally give this a try.......i used the recipe that i posted previously.......i've never had them before, so i don't have anything to compare them with, but they're good--tart, sweet, and spiced

[Omega Farms]

They look great. Let us know how you like them.

[Aliza Ess]

I modify the Ball Blue Book recipe using the same amount of vinegar and sugar, but instead of cinnamon and cloves I add slices of fresh ginger. I also put some yellow and black mustard seeds and peppercorns in the jar to add decoration and maybe a tiny bit of flavor. They are a huge hit!

You could even experiment with rice vinegar and apple cider vinegar to add another layer of sweet-tart flavor.

[Aliza Ess]

p.s. here is a photo

[Sharon Carson]

I made watermelon rind pickles using organic sugar organic apple cider vinerag organic cinnamin and wh0le cloves . The melons were a rare yellow moon and stars melon that I sell the seeds from.  The pulp was used in fruit salad so everything was used . I went to the farmers market and gave each of the farmers a jar . one farmer said he relly liked them because they were not as sweet as the ones you usually get . I used the leftover brine to pickle some figs.We made watermelon rind pickles when I was a kid . They are excellent chopped fine and mixed with mayonaise to make tarter sauce for seafood or used in a barbeque sauce.  :)Sharon

[Jerry Peterson]

Sharon,

I don't suppose you have a specific recipe for your watermelon pickles that you would be willing to share.  I agree with the farmer you chatted with and would like a recipe that isn't overly sweet.  Watermelons are lining two walls in my dining room and I need to deal with them probably sooner than later   :) 

[Sharon Carson]

The directions are similar as the previously posted recipe . It came out of my mothers copy of the Freezing and canning cookbook 1963 printed by the Farm Journal . It suggests cutting out the chunks with a small cookie cutter to make them fancy.  ..

  .one gallon cold water,2 tblsp salt cup vinegar(I used organic apple cidar vinegar),7 cup sugar (I used 4 cups organic cane sugar),1 tblspwhole cloves , 2  sticks organic cinnamin .

   Soak overnight in a bine made of the water and salt,

   in the morning rinse and soak in ice water an hour.

   tie spices in a cheesecloth bag and simmer in the vinergar and sugar to make a syrup.

   Simmer the melon in water till tender drain

   Add the melon to the hot syrup and gently cook l till translucent .

  Pack into small canning jars cover with the hot syrup and seal.

    process in a hot water bath 5 minutes.  '   ENJOY :)Sharon

  By the way,  horses love watermelon so If you want to feed some to some horses they would love it.  Mine eat the whole thing rind and all!

[Jerry Peterson]

Sharon Carson said:

The directions are similar as the previously posted recipe . It came out of my mothers copy of the Freezing and canning cookbook 1963 printed by the Farm Journal . It suggests cutting out the chunks with a small cookie cutter to make them fancy.  ..

  .one gallon cold water,2 tblsp salt cup vinegar(I used organic apple cidar vinegar),7 cup sugar (I used 4 cups organic cane sugar),1 tblspwhole cloves , 2  sticks organic cinnamin .

   Soak overnight in a bine made of the water and salt,

   in the morning rinse and soak in ice water an hour.

   tie spices in a cheesecloth bag and simmer in the vinergar and sugar to make a syrup.

   Simmer the melon in water till tender drain

   Add the melon to the hot syrup and gently cook l till translucent .

  Pack into small canning jars cover with the hot syrup and seal.

    process in a hot water bath 5 minutes.  '   ENJOY :)Sharon

  By the way,  horses love watermelon so If you want to feed some to some horses they would love it.  Mine eat the whole thing rind and all!

[Jerry Peterson]

Thank you so much Sharon for taking the time and sharing your recipe! One question, though. How much rind for the recipe?