How to store dried watermelons. Dried watermelons

Watermelon became known to mankind in ancient times. Its history originates in ancient Egypt - it was here that the amazing taste of this fruit was first appreciated. Currently, watermelon is one of the most favorite berries of the inhabitants of Russia! Still would! It is not only amazingly tasty, but also very healthy, thanks to the high content of iron and folic acid.

Indeed, many of us would really like to enjoy juicy and sweet watermelon all year round, and not just in late summer and early autumn ... Fortunately, there are many different ways to harvest watermelon for the winter. You can do almost anything with it - salt, pickle, preserve, make jam, candied fruits, and much, much more ...

Perhaps, for someone, it will sound somewhat unexpected, but the watermelon is also dried. By the way, this method of harvesting watermelon is one of the most optimal.

Before you start drying, you need to thoroughly wash the watermelon, cut it into two parts, carefully clean the seeds, remove all fibrous fibers and carefully cut off the crust. By the way, do not rush to throw away the watermelon peel - you can make jam from it, or dry it separately and then make a healthy decoction from it. Now you should cut the pulp of the watermelon. Do as you like - you can cut it into small slices, five millimeters thick, but given that the watermelon is an extremely juicy fruit, and, therefore, tends to rapidly decrease in size during the drying process, it is advisable to still cut its pulp in small cubes.

Drying watermelon at home is an excellent method of preserving all its beneficial properties, since as a result of dehydration, any bacteria and other microorganisms lose all chances for development and reproduction. In addition, vitamins are much better preserved in the dried pulp of watermelon than with any other types of processing.

So, in order to be able to enjoy this excellent delicacy on cold winter evenings, several types of drying can be used.

One of them is solar-air drying. This method is ideal for owners of country and country houses. A place for drying watermelons should be chosen as far as possible from the roadway and the territory on which there are pets. The ideal option would be if you organize a platform for drying watermelon in the garden. In order to avoid dust, it is advisable to sprinkle the ground with gravel. Also take care of a special canopy that will protect the watermelon slices during bad weather. To dry watermelon at home, you can use a sieve or a suitable size tray. The delicacy will be completely ready for use in about a week.

This process can be significantly accelerated by using a special electric dryer. You may need 12-14 hours to dry a watermelon on a medium setting. This time may depend on the thickness of the pieces as well as how much moisture the product contains. It is very important that the place where the apparatus intended for is installed is well ventilated - this is necessary so that the air coming out of it does not get back. Watermelon slices should not be subjected to any processing before drying, although if you want to avoid darkening during the drying process, dip for several minutes in a solution of acetic or ascorbic acid. The solution should be prepared at the rate of 15 milliliters of acid per two liters of water.

It is best to store ready-made dried watermelon slices in bags made of gauze, natural fabric, or paper.

Step 1: cut the watermelon rinds.

We clean the watermelon peels from the pink pulp. With a knife, cut off the hard green skin from the crusts. We cut into cubes 1x1 centimeter, or, if desired, cut out figures of arbitrary shape.

Pour water into a saucepan and put on fire. When the water boils, put the chopped cubes there and blanch them for 5-7 minutes and put them in a colander.

Step 2: Cook the sugar syrup.

Pour 2 cups of water into a saucepan and dissolve the sugar and cook the sugar syrup. We heat the syrup, remove the foam, boil for 5 minutes, stirring. On a zest grater, grate the lime zest from both fruits and add it to the syrup.

Step 3: cook candied fruits.

Dip watermelon cubes in sugar syrup and bring to a boil. Cook the candied fruit on low heat for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and cool to room temperature. We repeat the procedure 5 more times. Add lime juice and boil another 5 times for 5 minutes, cool after each dose.

Step 4: dry the candied fruits.

After 10 boils, watermelon rinds become transparent. We cover the baking sheet with waxed paper (baking parchment) and lay out the candied fruits, pulling them out with a slotted spoon from the syrup. Distribute them evenly. Turn on the oven and preheat to 50-70 degrees. We send candied fruits for 2-3 hours, so that they dry out.

Step 5: serve to the table.

Sprinkle dried candied fruits with powdered sugar or regular sugar and pour into a jar or box for further use. Ready-made candied fruits can be put on the table instead of sweets, or used as a filling for baking. They are a good decoration for desserts and sweet dishes. Bon appetit!

When boiling candied fruits, vanilla and cinnamon can be added to give them a rich flavor.

You can also dry candied fruits without an oven; for this, we spread them on a sieve and dry them in the sun or in a well-ventilated area.

Store candied fruits in a dry place away from strong-smelling foods in a tightly closed jar or box.

Usually watermelon is eaten just like that, cut into slices, and sometimes the flesh is cut into cubes. They also make fresh, or rather, just a smoothie - pitted watermelon, whipped in a blender. Great drink for warm weather.

Watermelon is beautiful not only on its own, but also in gastronomic combinations. For example, with cheese or other salty spicy cheese - it is gradually becoming a classic. If you are already a little tired of watermelon by itself, we suggest experimenting and cooking something original. It turns out that watermelon goes very well with soy sauce, eggplant and fried meat.

Photo: Restaurant "Combine"

Recipe by Pavel Gorbachev, chef of the Kombinat restaurant

For the vinaigrette sauce (30 ml per serving):

125 ml honey
10 ml soy sauce
500 ml vegetable oil
35 ml white wine vinegar
10 ml balsamic vinegar

Step 1. For the sauce, mix all the ingredients and beat lightly.

Step 2. Cut large tomatoes.

Step 3. Remove the seeds from the watermelon and cut into large cubes.

Step 4. Finely chop the avocado, chop the onion and disassemble into half rings, cut the radish into circles

Step 5. Mix all the ingredients for the salad, salt to taste, pour over the sauce, put thinly sliced sheep's cheese on top of the salad.

Photo: Modus Restaurant

Recipe by Andrey Kolodyazhny, chef of the Modus restaurant

For decoration:

5 g rice chips
Sorrel Powder

Step 1. Cut the watermelon into a triangle, fry on both sides in butter with pepper and salt. Fry for 1 minute on each side, add tarragon at the end.

Step 2 Separately, cut the marbled beef into a thin slice, fry on one side for 7-10 minutes.

Step 3. Put the fried watermelon on a plate, put the finished beef on top.

Step 4. Decorate with sun-dried cherry tomatoes, balsamic cream, dill oil, rice chips and sorrel powder.

Photo: Restaurant Seven

Recipe by Dmitry Shurshakov, brand chef of the Seven restaurant

For 4 servings, each 260 g

For the cake:

60 g wheat flour
40 g sugar
3 eggs
15 g starch
15 g almond flour
Oatmeal cookie crumb

For the raspberry cake:

60 g raspberry puree
3 eggs
30 g sugar
40 g flour

For rose cream:

50 g sugar
1 gelatin sheet
125 g cremette cheese
150 g heavy cream
10 g rose syrup

For filing:

120 g strawberries
100 g watermelon pulp
Redcurrant jam - for decoration.

Step 1. Cooking the cake. Mix flour, sugar, oatmeal cookie crumbs, starch and almond flour.

Step 2. Separate the proteins from the yolks; Beat egg whites until stiff peaks, gently fold in with egg yolks. We combine the dry and egg mixtures, bake for 20 minutes at a temperature of 180 degrees.

Step 3. Cooking a raspberry biscuit. Mix flour, sugar and raspberry puree.

Step 4. Separate the proteins from the yolks; Beat egg whites until stiff peaks, gently fold in with egg yolks. We combine both mixtures, bake for 15 minutes at a temperature of 180 C.

Step 5. Prepare the rose cream: slightly heat the cream, add sugar, stir until dissolved.

Step 6. Add rose syrup and cheese, stir.

Step 7. Gelatin is soaked in a small amount of water and heated in a water bath until completely dissolved. Pour the gelatin mixture into the cream, mix gently.

Step 8. Divide into two portions and pour into molds, leaving in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.

Step 9 Assemble the cake. On the cake we place a layer of cream jelly, then a thin layer of watermelon pulp, then another layer of cream jelly and on top - a raspberry biscuit. Decorate the cake with strawberries and red currant jam.

dried watermelon

This year, watermelons were born to fame, at least sushi))). Have you ever wondered if there are dried watermelons? Slicing a watermelon and drying it is a great way to experience the rich watermelon flavor, as well as a great snack!

For this recipe used:

2 watermelons

But if you want sweet dried watermelon, then you can not use salt.

But what we need from kitchen utensils:

Dryer, with non-stick sheets, and timer
Big Knife
Sharp small paring knife

Each of us cuts a watermelon in our own way, but I love it this way:

First, I cut into two halves, then I divide the halves into quarters, then these quarters into slices. I think it's more convenient that way.

The next option is for an amateur, someone likes salted watermelon, someone not so much. Of course it's up to you to decide.

We expose for 15-18 hours to dry at a temperature of 55º, do not forget to keep an eye on what is happening and keep the situation under control. Do not leave drying overnight in order to comply with fire safety regulations.

Well, everything is ready. The favorite delicacy from the dryer was pulled out and folded. You can also experiment with flavors, whether it's lemon juice or chili peppers, or aromatic spices. For fidelity, you can hold the watermelon in the oven off for a while, at your discretion. Experiment and good luck!

Fruits and berries

Description

dried watermelon- This is a rather peculiar delicacy that has an original taste and texture. Unlike fresh juicy watermelon, this dish is slightly salty and tastes like jerky. There is no guarantee that you will immediately taste and approve the taste of such a treat, but the fact that you should definitely try it is a fact. Moreover, the cooking process is quite simple, although a lot of time must pass for the watermelon to dry completely.

I would like to mention that dried watermelon can benefit the body due to its beneficial properties. So, it contains a lot of different vitamins and minerals. For example, a very large amount of vitamins A, C, E, PP, D, as well as some B vitamins are part of dried watermelon. In addition, it can be found in potassium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus and many other useful trace elements. Thus, regular consumption of watermelon does not harm the figure at all and helps to improve the functioning of the immune system. And given the fact that dried watermelon can be stored for the winter, it will bring much more benefits.

You can dry such a fruit in the oven or microwave, but the best thing for such a thing is a standard electric dryer, which will cope with this task more efficiently.

Of course, dried watermelons can be bought in some stores, but it will be much more useful if you make them yourself at home. To do this, you only need the required amount of the required ingredients, as well as our simple step-by-step recipe with photo tips, with which you can easily and quickly make this excellent and original snack for the winter.

Ingredients

Steps

The watermelon that you will dry must be ripe. However, overripe fruits should not be taken, since their consistency is quite crumbly, therefore, this will not allow the watermelon to be dried to the consistency that we need. When purchasing a watermelon that meets all the conditions, rinse its peel and cut off the top and bottom parts.

Cut each half of the watermelon into two more pieces. Try to make them about the same thickness so that the watermelon slices dry evenly on each side. After that, each quarter of the watermelon should be cut into several more parts as shown in the photo.

After that, you need to take each piece of watermelon and carefully cut off the rind so that no green particles remain on the watermelon pulp.

Having processed all the pieces of watermelon in this way, prepare a baking sheet, cover it with baking paper, and then spread the watermelon pulp on it. Try to make sure that the fruit pieces lie far enough apart, otherwise they will stick together and look unaesthetic.

Before you send the watermelon to dry in the oven, take sea salt and salt each individual piece a little. This will add spice to the watermelon and allow it to dry more evenly during the heat treatment.

Next, you need to prepare an electric dryer or oven with which you will dry the watermelon. Put a baking sheet with pieces of fruit inside and forget about them for eighteen hours. At this time, you can watch the drying process from afar, occasionally looking at watermelons.

After the expiration of the above period, pieces of watermelons must be transferred to containers or bags and sent for storage in a dark, dry place. You can enjoy dried watermelons all winter.

Bon appetit!