Expect guests to do a double take when they see your watermelon with a tap attached — and to come back for seconds after sampling the spiked punch concealed within.
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 2 hr 20 min |
| Active: | 20 min |
| Yield: | 6 to 10 servings |
Ingredients
- One 20- to 25-pound seedless watermelon
- One 750-milliliter bottle rose wine
- 1 1/2 cups orange vodka
Instructions
- Cut a thin slice from the bottom of the watermelon rind (but not into the flesh) so the watermelon will sit upright. With a sharp knife, carve out a circle in the top of the watermelon to make a lid, as you would when carving a jack-o’-lantern.
- To prepare with an immersion blender: Set the watermelon in the sink (to avoid splashes). Remove the lid and insert an immersion blender into the flesh. Gently push and move the immersion blender down and around in the watermelon to puree the center. As more of the watermelon becomes pureed, move the blender to the sides to puree almost all of the flesh, leaving a thin wall of flesh lining the rind. Pour the pureed juice out of the watermelon; you should have between 6 and 7 cups.
- To prepare with a drill: Fasten one beater from an electric hand mixer to the tip of a drill and tighten the chuck. Set the watermelon in the sink (to avoid splashes) and push the beater into the flesh. Gently push and move the beater down and around in the watermelon to puree the center. As more of the watermelon becomes pureed, move the beater to the sides to puree almost all of the flesh, leaving a thin wall of flesh lining the rind. Pour the pureed juice out of the watermelon, and strain, discarding any pulp and seeds; you should have between 6 and 7 cups of strained juice.
- Insert a tap in the empty watermelon according to the package directions. Pour the watermelon juice, wine and vodka into the watermelon and top with the lid. Refrigerate until the watermelon and punch inside are well chilled, at least 2 hours.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 274 |
| Total Fat | 1 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 0 grams |
| Cholesterol | 0 milligrams |
| Sodium | 5 milligrams |
| Carbohydrates | 36 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 grams |
| Protein | 3 grams |
| Sugar | 28 grams |
Reviews
I used an immersion blender and had no mess to speak of. I did this right on the counter top. I can see how using a beater might be messier, but this went pretty quick and easy with the immersion blender. Oh, and it tasted great.
I’ve made this before, but I’ll have to try it with the orange vodka next time. Using the watermelon like this is WAY too much trouble and makes a big mess, even in your sink. I just cut off one end of the watermelon enough to get your hand in to scrape away the fruit, then blend it with the wine in a food processor. But I use a sweet red wine in a BOX! Remove the bag from the box and pour the wine into another container. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to pry off the bag spout. Refill the bag with your punch and push the spout back into the bag. Cut a hole large enough in the opposite end of the melon to push the spigot through, and place the bag inside the melon. Cut a few bamboo skewers in half sticking them in both edges of the cut off watermelon, pushing the end cap back on.*You can make up several bags of the punch and simply replace it in the melon when it gets empty.