Cooking Lesson #652: Watermelon Chews

…from the Perspectives’ Kitchen

How you doin’? If someone offered you dehydrated water, you’d think they were scammin’ you, right? So if someone offered you dehydrated watermelon you’d probably think the same thing. But here’s a snacking recipe that is healthier than a Jolly Rancher, more portable than a watermelon, easier to make than a fruit roll-up and safer to eat than watermelon shots.
 
The world’s best dried fruit is dehydrated watermelon! Watermelon Chews are sweet and chewy with a pleasant vegetal taste that you don’t get from the fresh stuff. Best of all, you don’t even need a dehydrator to make it.

But you will need an oven and a little patience. Just slice the watermelon triangles  super thin, drizzle the triangles with lime juice to give it some zip, and then let it dry out in a hot oven for about five hours. The edges get a bit crispy, which is a good thing as a great contrast in texture to the fruit-leathery texture in the middle.
 
Dehydrated watermelon is great for all manner of summer snacking. Put some in a backpack for post-hike and bike nibbles. Toss some in your kid’s lunch bag before sending them off to day camp or school. Bring some on your next road trip or camp outs and leave the Cheetos and trail mix at home. I keep a container in the test kitchen for sugar- and calorie-free treats
 
Prep time:  20 minutes
Bake time:  5 to 5-1/2 hours
Yield:  8 servings
 
Ingredients 
1 mini seedless watermelon
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Non-stick cooking spray (I prefer Pam Original)
 
Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 400° F.
2. Place 3 wire racks onto 3 rimmed baking sheets. Spray each wire rack with cooking spray.
3. Cut the rind off the watermelon and slice the watermelon into ¼”-thick triangles.
4. Place the slices on the wire racks, leaving ¼” between each slice. Drizzle the slices with a little lime juice.
5. Bake for 5 to 5 ½ hours, or until the slices have dried out and are quite thin, like chips.
6. Immediately remove the slices from the wire racks and place on a piece of parchment paper to cool.
7. Enjoy immediately.

ChefSecret:  Leftovers? If there are any... simply store them in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Quip of the Day:  Q. A watermelon proposes to its sweetheart: “Honeydew want to get married?” A: “Oh yes”, she replies, “but we cantaloupe!”
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America and/or American Red Cross.
 
#Snacks #Watermelon #DriedWatermelon #2023 #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                                                          ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2023 

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