Watermelon Benedict
Contributed by: News Canada
(NC) - It is well known that watermelon is a delicious sweet snack that can be enjoyed anytime of the year, but is especially refreshing in the heat of the summer. However, what is not common knowledge is that watermelon is neither a fruit nor vegetable, but both.
As defined by Webster's Dictionary, watermelon is considered a fruit, technically a ripened ovary of a seed plant and its contents (much like the pepper, pumpkin or tomato). However, according to Webster's, a vegetable is anything made or obtained from plants. As a member of the cucurbitaceae plant family of gourds, watermelon is also related to the cucumber and squash, planted from seeds or seedlings, harvested, and then cleared from a field like a vegetable. Since watermelon is grown as a vegetable crop using vegetable production systems it can also be considered a vegetable.
North Americans primarily treat watermelon as a fruit, eaten out of hand or in salads and sweet desserts. Yet, in countries such as China, watermelons are stir-fried and stewed and in Russia, pickled watermelon rind is widely enjoyed. For other examples, a selection of nearly 150 recipes that present watermelon as a sweet treat or a savoury meal can be found online at watermelon.org.
However, on its own or in a recipe watermelon is a versatile "fregetable" that is enjoyed the world over.
As seasons change, so do our tastes and food cravings. Where warm, rich comfort is the name of the game for winter, it is the light and refreshing that is favoured in summer.
The Watermelon Benedict may visually resemble its poultry namesake, but with a fresh tasting combination of watermelon, kiwi and lemon yogurt on a bed of honey sweetened granola, this much lighter version is a "Benny" for everyday.
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 cups low-fat granola of choice 375 mL
- 1/3 cup honey at room emperature 75 mL
- 4 to 6 3-inch (7.5 cm) round and 3/4-inch (1.5 cm) thick circles of seedless watermelon 4 to 6
- 4 to 6 1/2-inch (1 cm) thick slices of peeled kiwi 4 to 6
- 1 cup low- or non-fat lemon yogurt 250 mL
Garnish
- 2 or 3 purple grapes, sliced in halves, seeded 2 or 3
Directions:
In bowl, mix granola with honey. On a serving plate, make 3-inch (7.5 cm) circles of granola in even thickness, dividing granola/honey mixture evenly among 4 to 6 servings. Top each granola circle with a watermelon slice followed by a kiwi slice. Spoon yogurt over kiwi and watermelon to resemble hollandaise sauce on Eggs Benedict.
To garnish, top each Watermelon Benedict with a grape half; skin side up.
Source: www.watermelon.org
Serving Size: Makes 4 - 6 Servings
