Fruit salad is a staple at summer parties. We kicked ours up a notch by serving it in a giant watermelon “wave bowl” to make it the centerpiece of any shindig. Watch your fingers– there may be a shark or two lurking in those shoals!
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 30 min |
| Active: | 30 min |
| Yield: | 12 to 14 servings |
Ingredients
- 2 seedless watermelons (each about 10 pounds)
- 4 pints blueberries
- 4 pints blackberries
- 2 cups red seedless grapes
Instructions
- Using a large chef’s knife, cut both watermelons in half lengthwise through the stem. With a melon half flesh side up, cut vertical lines into the flesh (leaving rind intact) 1 inch apart and about 2 inches deep along the length of each half, leaving a 1-inch border of flesh on both ends. Repeat this process with the lines going in the opposite direction. Use a spoon to scoop out the watermelon pieces into a large bowl (it’s okay if some of the spears break in half as you are doing this.) Repeat with the remaining melon halves. Use the spoon to remove as much of the flesh left in the watermelon halves as possible and save for another use.
- Cut 1 1/2 inches off both ends of 2 of the watermelon halves (these halves will become the middle parts of the bowl). Cut 1 1/2 inches off one end of the 2 remaining halves (these will become the bookends of your bowl). Use the flesh left in the watermelon ends to stamp out sharks with a 3-inch shark cookie cutter and set aside.
- Use a metal skewer to outline waves along the top edge of each watermelon half. Then carefully cut out the wave pattern using a sharp paring knife. Take one middle piece and one bookend piece and place the flat sides together to create half of the large bowl. Thread the metal skewer through the bottom of the watermelons to secure them together. Repeat this process with the remaining watermelon halves and another metal skewer to create the other half of the large bowl. Place both halves on a large platter with the two middle pieces pushed together (these parts do not need to be secured with a skewer as they will stay together on the platter).
- Fill the assembled watermelon bowl with the reserved watermelon chunks. Mix the berries and grapes together and scatter on top of the watermelon, covering it as much as possible, then add the melon sharks.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 14 servings |
| Calories | 196 |
| Total Fat | 1 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 49 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 8 g |
| Sugar | 36 g |
| Protein | 4 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 5 mg |