Description

Watermelon honey is a sweet and natural syrup made by slowly reducing fresh watermelon juice. This recipe captures the essence of ripe watermelon with a hint of lemon juice to enhance its flavor, resulting in a thick, syrupy honey-like concentrate perfect for drizzling over desserts, pancakes, or mixing into beverages.

Ingredients

8 cups cubed ripe watermelon (seedless)
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, to enhance flavor)

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Instructions

Blend the Watermelon: Add watermelon cubes to a blender and blend until smooth, ensuring you extract as much juice as possible from the fruit.
Strain the Puree: Pour the blended watermelon through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large saucepan to separate the juice from any pulp and solids, achieving a smooth liquid base.
Add Lemon Juice (Optional): Stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to brighten and enhance the natural flavors of the watermelon juice.
Heat the Juice: Bring the juice to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to low to begin the simmering process.
Simmer and Reduce: Allow the juice to simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 1.5 to 2 hours until it thickens into a syrupy consistency reminiscent of honey.
Cool and Store: Let the watermelon honey cool slightly before pouring it into a clean jar or bottle. The syrup will thicken further as it cools.
Refrigerate: Store the watermelon honey in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks to maintain freshness and flavor.

Notes

Use seedless watermelon for a smoother consistency and less bitterness.
Lemon juice is optional but helps to preserve brightness and balance the sweetness.
The reduction process may vary in time depending on your stove and saucepan thickness.
This watermelon honey works wonderfully as a natural sweetener or topping for various dishes.
Make sure to stir occasionally during simmering to prevent burning or sticking on the pan bottom.