Pickled Watermelon Rind Recipe

Pickled Watermelon Rind


1 qt/2 lb watermelon rind

1/3 C salt
6 C water
1 tray of ice cubes

1/2 tsp powdered ginger

2 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
2 Tbsp honey

1 1/2 C Apple Cider vinegar
1 C water
3 star anise
8 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced with seeds removed

Trim the pink flesh and outer green skin from thick watermelon rind. Cut into 1/2 inch squares. Cover with brine made by mixing the salt with 6 C cold water. Add ice cubes. Let stand 3 to 4 hours.



Drain; rinse in cold water. Cover with cold water, add powdered ginger and cook until fork tender, 5-10 minutes (do not overcook). Drain.



Combine sugar, vinegar, water, and spices (tied in a clean, thin, white cloth). Boil 5 minutes and pour over the watermelon; add lemon slices. Let stand overnight in the refrigerator.



Heat watermelon in syrup to boiling and cook slowly 30  min to 1 hour, until rind is transparent. Pack hot pickles loosely into clean, hot pint jars. To each jar add 1 piece of stick cinnamon and evenly distribute spices from spice bag; cover with boiling syrup, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed.



Boiling water bath process for 10 minutes

Makes 2 pints

(adapted from: http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_06/watermelon_rind.html
with influences from: http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2011/06/watermelon-rind-preserves.html
http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/watermelon-rind-pickles/ )

[06-28-13] Only had about a pound and a half of rind (saved up in the freezer), but mostly kept measurements the same (only used 4C water for salt soak), had about a cup of leftover syrup. forgot to add ginger to the boiling water step.  Haven't tried any rind yet, but syrup is pretty yummy. Not entirely sure that the overnight syrup soak is necessary, may skip it next time, but nice to know I can use it if I'm short on time.

Mixed Pickling Spice Recipe

Mixed Pickling Spice

4 tsp mustard seed

3 tsp allspice berries

3 tsp coriander

3 tsp peppercorns

2 tsp juniper berries*

1 tsp cardamom seeds*

1 tsp celery seed*

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp dill seed

1 tsp ginger (chopped dried)

1 pinch red pepper flakes*

2 small bay leaves. shredded

1/3 cinnamon stick, crushed

* - optional

Makes approximately 3/4C

6/24/13 -  Couldn't find cardamom seeds, so had to dissect the pods for them, it smelled super yummy. left out the red pepper flakes.

Grape Jelly Recipe

Grape Jelly


4 C  100% Concord Grape Juice (unsweetened)
1 C Sugar
1 Pkg Ball no/low sugar pectin

Combine juice and pectin and stir thoroughly.

Bring juice to a hard boil that cannot be stirred down.

Add sugar and stir to dossolve, return jelly to a hard boil that cannot be stirred down.  Boil for one minute.

Remove from heat and ladle into prepared jars.

Boiling water bath process for 10 minutes.

Makes 4 1/2 half pints.


06-15-13 -  beautiful set, and a good level of sweetness, but a bit weak tasting, maybe boil it down and concentrate it a bit next time?