Country Style Ribs With Quick Pickled Watermelon Recipes

COUNTRY-STYLE RIBS WITH QUICK-PICKLED WATERMELON

Steps:

• Ribs:
• First, make the marinade. Bring brown sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Lower heat to medium and simmer until reduced to 1/4 cup; transfer to a medium bowl. Whisk in soy sauce and next 8 ingredients. Stir in onion. Let cool. Pour the marinade into a large resealable plastic bag.
• Rub ribs with mustard powder and add to marinade in bag; seal bag and turn ribs to coat. Place bag in a baking dish and chill, turning occasionally, for at least 6 hours and up to overnight.
• Watermelon:
• Start with the dressing. In a small saucepan over low heat, toast coriander seeds until fragrant and beginning to pop, 2-3 minutes. Transfer coriander to a baking sheet and crush slightly with the back of a cool skillet. Combine coriander, vinegar, lime juice, shallot, and honey in a small bowl. Whisk in oil and season with salt and pepper. Set vinaigrette aside.
• Place watermelon in a large bowl; add 1/2 cup vinaigrette and toss to coat. Cover and chill, tossing occasionally, for up to 1 hour to lightly pickle watermelon.
• Build a medium fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to medium-high. Transfer ribs from bag, leaving some marinade clinging to surface, onto a baking sheet. Pour remaining marinade from bag into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer for 3 minutes. Set marinade aside.
• Grill ribs until nicely charred and cooked to medium, about 5 minutes per side. Using tongs, dunk each rib into reserved marinade. Return ribs to grill and cook, turning once, until cooked to medium-well, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter.
• Toss tomatoes, 1/4 cup cilantro, and 1 Tbsp. vinaigrette in a medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Top ribs with pickled watermelon. Scatter tomato mixture over. Garnish with more cilantro. Serve, passing remaining vinaigrette alongside for drizzling over.

PICKLED WATERMELON AND WATERMELON RIND

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, sugar, salt and 4 cups water over medium heat. Bring up to a boil. Place the coriander and peppercorns on a cutting board. Lightly crush the spices with the bottom of a sturdy pan, then add them to the liquid. Turn the heat down to low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning. It should be a mix of vinegary, sweet and slightly salty. Shut it off to cool slightly.
• Fill a quart-size jar with the watermelon cubes and a pint-size jar with the rind pieces.
• Pour the vinegar mixture over the melon and rind and let it cool at room temperature, uncovered, for 2 hours. Place in the refrigerator and let it chill, uncovered, overnight. Then cover tightly. The pickles will be good for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

QUICK-PICKLED WATERMELON

Steps:

• Add the rice wine vinegar, palm sugar, fish sauce and dried chiles to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Place the watermelon into a bowl over an ice bath. Once the liquid comes to a boil, pour over the watermelon and stir to combine until the mixture has cooled.
• Add to a platter of cheeses, meats, crackers, dried fruit, etc.

GRANDMA'S PICKLED WATERMELON RIND

Steps:

• Place watermelon rind in a glass bowl; add water to cover. Stir in pickling salt. Cover and refrigerate in the brine for 8 hours to overnight.
• Rinse watermelon rind 2 to 3 times to remove excess salt from the brine. Taste and keep rinsing until desired level of saltiness is achieved. Drain.
• Transfer watermelon rind to a large saucepan and cover with cold water; bring to a boil. Cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, inspect 2 quart-sized jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until watermelon rind is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• At the same time, combine sugar, 2 cups water, vinegar, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and maintain a low simmer for 10 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl; discard any solids.
• Drain watermelon rinds and pack into hot, sterilized jars. Ladle vinegar mixture into each jar, filling to within 1/2 inch of the top. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with lids and screw rings on tightly.
• Let jars cool to room temperature, 30 to 45 minutes. Store in the refrigerator.