If you have never tried pickled watermelon before, this is such a fun and unusual recipe to make! Juicy watermelon is cut into large pieces and combined with garlic, fresh dill, dill flowers, green peppers, chili peppers, and aromatic pickling spices. The watermelon absorbs the salty, tangy brine while keeping a surprisingly pleasant texture. It makes a colorful homemade pickle that is perfect for summer meals, family gatherings, barbecues, and anyone who loves trying something different.
This recipe is especially interesting because it uses the red watermelon flesh, just like the jars shown in the picture. The combination of sweet watermelon with salty vinegar brine, garlic, dill, and peppers creates a completely different flavor from fresh watermelon.
Ingredients
For about 4 large jars, you will need approximately 6 to 8 cups of firm watermelon cut into large chunks. Choose watermelon that is ripe but still firm enough to hold its shape.
You will also need 2 cups of white vinegar, 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of pickling salt, and 2 tablespoons of sugar.
For the flavoring, prepare 4 to 6 cloves of garlic, several fresh dill sprigs, a few dill flower heads if available, 2 to 3 green peppers, 1 to 2 small chili peppers, 1 teaspoon of whole black peppercorns, 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds, and 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds.
You can adjust the amount of chili according to how spicy you want your pickled watermelon to be.
Preparing the Watermelon
Start by choosing a firm, fresh watermelon. Wash the outside thoroughly before cutting it.
Cut the watermelon into large slices and remove the rind. For this recipe, we are using the red watermelon flesh, not the white rind.
Remove as many seeds as practical, depending on the variety of watermelon you are using. Cut the flesh into large rectangular or chunky pieces that will fit nicely inside your jars.
Try not to cut the watermelon too small because very small pieces can become soft during pickling. Larger pieces hold their shape better and look beautiful in the jars.
Place the watermelon pieces in a large bowl and set them aside while preparing the other ingredients.
Preparing the Peppers and Garlic
Wash the green peppers and slice them into large strips or pieces.
Slice the chili peppers into rings if you want the heat distributed throughout the jars. If you prefer a milder pickle, remove the seeds from the chili peppers before slicing.
Peel the garlic cloves. You can leave them whole, slice them in half, or lightly crush them.
The garlic is one of the most important flavor ingredients in this recipe. As the jars sit, the garlic flavor blends with the dill, vinegar, peppers, and watermelon to create a wonderfully savory pickle.
Preparing the Brine
Add the white vinegar, water, pickling salt, and sugar to a saucepan.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir until the salt and sugar completely dissolve.
Add the black peppercorns, mustard seeds, and coriander seeds. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle simmer for a few minutes so the spices can release their flavor.
You do not need to boil the brine aggressively. A gentle simmer is enough.
The vinegar provides the tangy flavor, while the small amount of sugar balances the acidity. The salt gives the watermelon that classic pickle taste.
Filling the Jars
Use clean glass jars with clean, suitable lids.
Place a few pieces of garlic in the bottom of each jar. Add fresh dill and dill flowers if you have them.
Next, add a few pieces of green pepper and chili pepper.
Carefully place the watermelon chunks into the jars. Arrange them fairly tightly, but do not crush or force them into place.
Add another little layer of dill, garlic, and peppers around the watermelon.
The combination of bright red watermelon, green peppers, fresh dill, and garlic makes these jars look absolutely beautiful.
Adding the Brine
Carefully pour the prepared warm brine over the watermelon.
Make sure the watermelon pieces are covered with the liquid. Leave some space at the top of each jar rather than filling the jar completely.
Use a clean utensil to gently move the watermelon pieces around and release any trapped air bubbles.
Wipe the rims of the jars clean and place the lids on securely.
Allow the jars to cool before transferring them to the refrigerator.
Letting the Watermelon Pickle
Now comes the hardest part — waiting! 😂🍉
The watermelon will not have its full pickle flavor immediately.
Let the jars rest in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. For a stronger flavor, allow them to sit for approximately 3 to 5 days.
During this time, the watermelon absorbs the vinegar, salt, garlic, dill, and spices.
The result is a unique combination of sweet, sour, salty, garlicky, and slightly spicy flavors.
How to Serve Pickled Watermelon
Serve the watermelon chilled directly from the refrigerator.
It makes a wonderful side dish with grilled meats, barbecue, sandwiches, burgers, roasted chicken, or summer dinners.
You can also place the watermelon on a pickle platter with cucumbers, onions, peppers, olives, and other homemade pickles.
The colorful watermelon pieces also make a fun appetizer for parties and family gatherings.
If you enjoy spicy foods, serve the watermelon with some of the pickled green peppers and chili peppers from the jar. The spicy peppers add a delicious kick to the naturally sweet watermelon.
Tips for the Best Pickled Watermelon
Choose watermelon that is firm rather than overly soft. Firm watermelon will hold its shape much better.
Cut the pieces large enough that they do not fall apart easily.
Do not overcook or heat the watermelon itself. The watermelon should remain fresh and firm before it goes into the jars.
Fresh dill gives the best flavor, especially when you can find dill flowers like those visible in the picture.
Garlic can be adjusted according to taste. If you love garlic pickles, add more cloves to each jar.
For a spicy version, add extra chili peppers. For a milder version, use only green peppers and leave out the chili.
Important Storage Note
Because watermelon is a low-acid food, this recipe should be treated as a refrigerator pickle, not as a shelf-stable canned watermelon recipe.
Keep the finished jars refrigerated. Do not simply seal these jars and store them at room temperature for months. If you want a shelf-stable canned watermelon product, use a tested, research-based canning recipe specifically designed for watermelon and follow its exact processing instructions.
Final Thoughts
This Pickled Watermelon is definitely one of those recipes that makes people curious! 🍉🌶️ At first, the combination of watermelon, garlic, dill, green peppers, and chili sounds unusual, but the flavors come together in a surprisingly delicious way.
The watermelon stays colorful and refreshing, while the vinegar, salt, garlic, dill, and spices transform it into something completely different from ordinary fresh watermelon.
If you love homemade pickles and enjoy experimenting with unusual recipes, this is definitely worth trying.
And if you make a huge batch like the picture… 😂🍉 at least you will have plenty to share with family and friends!
Have you ever tried Pickled Watermelon? 🍉🌶️ Would you try this sweet, tangy, garlicky, and spicy version? Tell me in the comments! And if you love unique homemade pickle recipes, LIKE, SAVE, and SHARE this recipe with someone who would be brave enough to try it!
