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Jar of pickled watermelon rind and spices on a kitchen counter; nearby, a watermelon wedge and a striped towel enhance the fresh, rustic setting.

Pickled Watermelon Rind

Mandy Applegate
Pickled Watermelon Rind is one of those Southern treats that always takes me back to summer afternoons on my grandma’s porch. We’d sit in rocking chairs, a bowl of cold watermelon between us, spitting seeds and laughing till the fireflies came out.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 213 kcal

Equipment

  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Medium saucepan
  • Spoon
  • Strainer or colander
  • Jar with lid

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups watermelon rind peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 piece ginger sliced

Instructions
 

  • Cut off the green outer skin of the watermelon rind. Chop the white rind into small 1-inch pieces.
  • Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the rind pieces and cook them for about five minutes. Drain the water and set the rind aside.
  • In the same pot, pour in the water and vinegar. Add the sugar, salt, cinnamon stick, cloves, mustard seeds, peppercorns, red pepper flakes (if using), and sliced ginger. Stir the mixture and bring it to a boil until the sugar and salt dissolve.
  • Add the cooked watermelon rind into the boiling brine. Lower the heat and let it simmer for ten to fifteen minutes. The rind should look a bit see-through.
  • Scoop the rind and brine into a clean jar. Make sure the pieces are covered by the liquid. Let the jar cool down to room temperature.
  • Once cooled, place the jar in the fridge. Let it chill for at least a day before eating. That gives the flavors time to settle in.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 213kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 1757mgPotassium: 210mgFiber: 2gSugar: 47gVitamin A: 948IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg

A Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.

Keyword old-fashioned pickles, pickled watermelon rind, Southern pickles, watermelon rind recipe
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