I think one of my greatest simple pleasures in life is creating really easy foods that look like I put way more effort into them then I did. The WOW factor with minimal effort. I’m not quite sure what that says about me, but it does mean for you that you can dazzle your next potluck/ date night/ Netflix solo session with fabulous watermelon bites for very little effort.
Ingredients:
(Makes 15-20 bites)
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 4 slices of prosciutto
- 4-5 leaves of mint
- 1/4 watermelon, cut into bite sized pieces
- Toothpicks/ wood skewers
Directions:
- Balsamic glaze first. Bring balsamic to boil in small saucepan, then reduce simmer to thick for 20 min, stirring frequently. Let it cool/thicken further while you do other steps.
- Cut your watermelon into 1/2 inch pieces. Don’t get too crazy with perfect squares- it’s pretty hard to do with a spherical fruit. Just make sure the watermelon is bite sized.
- Cut your slides of prosciutto in eights (cut it in 4 strips lengthwise, then cut those in half). You want thin ribbons that are long enough to wrap around your watermelon bites.
- Snip your mint leaves horizontally into thin ribbons.
- Time to stack! Wrap each watermelon piece in prosciutto, then top with mint. Pierce with a toothpick to keep together. Use a spoon to drizzle your balsamic glaze over and enjoy!
Notes:
On the toothpicks: I did not have toothpicks but did have long wood skewers for kababs/ s’mores. I used gardening shears to cut them in fourths. If you have neither, forget the toothpicks! They’ll taste just as good.
On the balsamic: If you do not want to make your own, you have two options. 1. Trader Joe’s sells an AMAZING balsamic glaze if you don’t want to DIY. 2. Just drizzle balsamic! The reduction makes it sweeter and thicker, but it’s not essential!
What can I learn while I make this? Many cultures eat the WHOLE watermelon. Yes, that includes the rind! Google Asian recipes to use the rind in stir fry, tossing with sesame oil, soy sauce, and ginger along with your veggies. Or, look up recipes to pickle and brine the rind. As for the seeds- roast them!
What if I want a watermelon recipe but not this one?
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