Watermelon Salad - 2 ways

Summer means watermelon! I like it...but just plain watermelon gets boring fast. (At least it does to me...) Here are a couple quick and easy ways to bring some extra flavor to fresh watermelon.

Watermelon with Feta & Seeds/Nuts

Ingredients
4 C watermelon, small diced
½ C crumbled feta
¼ C sunflower seeds*
3 C torn/chopped lettuce

Optional: lemon poppyseed vinaigrette

* Walnuts are often used here, but I'm allergic. Sunflower seeds are great, but I've also used toasted pine nuts. Walnuts or another nut will do -- anything that adds a crunch and a little nutty-umami flavor.

Directions
Make a bed of the lettuce on serving dishes (or one large platter). If desired, gently toss diced watermelon with vinaigrette. (It adds extra zing for sure, but with the feta and seeds, this salad is delicious without any dressing!) Scoop diced watermelon onto bed of lettuce; top with feta and sunflower seeds.

Watermelon with Lime Dressing

Ingredients
4 C watermelon, small diced
1 lime
¼ C sugar

Directions
Zest the lime, then juice it. Place lime juice, about half the zest, sugar, and ¼ cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to boil; reduce heat but continue boiling until liquid is thickened and reduced about ¼ cup. Let cool.

Gently toss watermelon in lime dressing. Divide into serving dishes (or serve from one large bowl); garnish with remaining zest.

Watermelon Gelato

This makes a very mild flavored, refreshing gelato. Not as creamy as I'd like, but the icy-ness is not surprising with the high water content of watermelon...I'm afraid adding more cream would weaken the watermelon flavor too much. (maybe a little more limoncello?) I may play with the recipe a little next time around.

Ingredients
2 C pureed watermelon
1 C heavy cream
¾ C sugar
1 T lemon juice
1 T limoncello
Optional: ½ tsp mint extract

Directions
Remove rind from watermelon flesh; remove seeds as desired. Purée; strain to remove any remaining seeds and excess pulp.

Add sugar, cream, lemon, and limoncello...and mint if desired. (Because of the high water content in watermelon, the alcohol -- which doesn't freeze -- keeps the gelato from getting too icy, keeping it a creamier consistency. Any alcohol will work; many recipes call for vodka.) Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. If necessary, heat mixture just enough to dissolve all the sugar.

Chill in refrigerator to about 40˚. Process in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.