How to turn watermelon zest into delicious jam – recipe | don't waste

Watermelon rind preserves are made all over the world, from South American sweet watermelon rind jam to canned slatko od lubenice > from Serbia. In Ukraine, especially in the Kherson region, famous for its carbon-rich soil and valuable fruits and vegetables, it is common to use the whole watermelon, the rind often being made into a tasty jam by cubing it and soaking it in lime or vinegar, then boiling it with sugar syrup and herbs. My version is an amalgamation of these very different recipes, adding lime for acidity and ginger for depth of flavor. It is delicious on toast, pancakes or breakfast yogurts, and is also suitable as a condiment for spicy vegetables, chicken, pork and fatty fish. In most watermelon rind jam recipes, the striped green tiger exterior is peeled off and discarded, but I appreciate the extra texture you get from the skin, which reduces waste and prep time while by adding volume. As with most fruits, including citrus fruits, the outside of which is not eaten conventionally, it is advisable to use organic produce to reduce exposure to pesticides.

Bark jam of watermelon

If using an organic watermelon, leave the skin on; otherwise, peel and compost the green exterior.

500g watermelon rind, ideally organic400g sugar, ideally unrefined1 tbsp grated unpeeled ginger

1 finely chopped organic lime or the juice of 3 non-organic limes

Wash and coarsely chop the watermelon rind ( with or without the skin, depending on whether it's organic or not), then pulse into coarse chunks and put in a saucepan with the sugar, ginger and lime. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar, then simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, until the liquid has evaporated, the mixture is sticky and marmalade-like, and the crust has become translucent and very tender.