Anise Hyssop adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping watermelon from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
watermelon
+ Add to WorkbenchAbout this ingredient
A large tropical fruit (Citrullus lanatus) with 92% water content and a refreshingly sweet, subtly complex flavor from a mixture of sugars, volatile esters, an…
42 pairings
Editorial
Flavor profile
Watermelon's flavor (beyond simple sweetness) comes from a mixture of volatile compounds including (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal (green, melon), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and various furanones — balanced with the sugars (primarily fructose and glucose) and moderate acidity. The lycopene content (the red pigment, the same compound in tomatoes) is higher in watermelon than in any other fresh fruit or vegetable. Salt on watermelon: the sodium ions suppress bitterness perception and simultaneously heighten sweetness perception — the common summer practice of salting watermelon slices has a genuine flavor-science explanation. A squeeze of lime and chili (the Mexican watermelon preparation with chamoy and Tajín) adds acidity and heat that further amplifies the sweet-cold-juicy character. In cooking: watermelon salad with feta and mint (the salt in feta performs the same sweet-enhancing function); grilled watermelon (direct heat caramelizes the surface sugars and concentrates flavor); watermelon gazpacho. The rind (often discarded) can be pickled — Southern US tradition.
Pairings
Flavor relationships
Pairs well with
anise hyssop
basil
beverages
blackberries
blueberries
cheese, feta
cheese, goat
chili powder
cilantro
cinnamon
cream
cucumber
fennel
honey
jicama
kaffir lime
lemon, juice
lemon, zest
lime, juice
melon
mint
olive oil
orange
parsley, flat-leaf
pepper, black
pepper, white
pistachios
pomegranate
raspberries
salads, fruit
salt, kosher
salt, sea
sorbet
soups
sugar, brown
sugar, white
tequila
tomatoes
vanilla
vinegar, balsamic
vinegar, rice
vinegar, sherry
anise hyssop
Anise Hyssop adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping watermelon from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
basil
Basil adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping watermelon from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
beverages
Beverages gives watermelon a structured base or serving context that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel more complete.
blackberries
Blackberries adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out watermelon's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
blueberries
Blueberries adds salt, fat, and savory depth that give watermelon more structure and make the combination feel fuller.
cheese, feta
Feta's salt and tang balance watermelon's juicy sweetness, the summer salad pairing that did not need a committee.
cheese, goat
Cheese, Goat adds salt, fat, and savory depth that give watermelon more structure and make the combination feel fuller.
chili powder
Chili Powder adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against watermelon's natural base notes.
cilantro
Cilantro adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping watermelon from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
cinnamon
Cinnamon adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against watermelon's natural base notes.
cream
Cream adds richness and helps carry watermelon's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
cucumber
Cucumber adds complementary plant character, giving watermelon more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
fennel
Fennel adds complementary plant character, giving watermelon more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
honey
Honey adds seasoning or sweetness that balances watermelon's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
jicama
Jicama adds complementary plant character, giving watermelon more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
kaffir lime
Kaffir Lime brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
lemon, juice
Lemon, Juice brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
lemon, zest
Lemon, Zest brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
lime, juice
Lime sharpens watermelon's sweetness and keeps its watery freshness vivid.
melon
Melon adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out watermelon's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
mint
Mint gives watermelon cooling herbal lift, making the fruit taste even fresher.
olive oil
Olive Oil adds richness and helps carry watermelon's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
orange
Orange brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
parsley, flat-leaf
Parsley, Flat-Leaf adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping watermelon from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
pepper, black
Pepper, Black adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against watermelon's natural base notes.
pepper, white
Pepper, White adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against watermelon's natural base notes.
pistachios
Pistachios adds nutty richness and texture that gives watermelon more contrast and substance.
pomegranate
Pomegranate complements watermelon by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
raspberries
Raspberries adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out watermelon's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
salads, fruit
Salads, Fruit adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out watermelon's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
salt, kosher
Salt, Kosher adds seasoning or sweetness that balances watermelon's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
salt, sea
Sea salt intensifies watermelon's sweetness and gives its high-water crunch more definition.
sorbet
Sorbet complements watermelon by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
soups
Soups adds structure and seasoning that helps watermelon integrate into a fuller dish instead of wandering around like an ingredient without a project manager.
sugar, brown
Sugar, Brown adds seasoning or sweetness that balances watermelon's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
sugar, white
Sugar, White adds seasoning or sweetness that balances watermelon's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
tequila
Tequila adds aromatic depth, warmth, or sweetness that helps watermelon work in drinks, sauces, desserts, or cooked preparations.
tomatoes
Tomatoes adds complementary plant character, giving watermelon more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
vanilla
Vanilla adds seasoning or sweetness that balances watermelon's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
vinegar, balsamic
Vinegar, Balsamic brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
vinegar, rice
Vinegar, Rice brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
vinegar, sherry
Vinegar, Sherry brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
Basil adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping watermelon from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
beverages
Beverages gives watermelon a structured base or serving context that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel more complete.
Blackberries adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out watermelon's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
Blueberries adds salt, fat, and savory depth that give watermelon more structure and make the combination feel fuller.
Feta's salt and tang balance watermelon's juicy sweetness, the summer salad pairing that did not need a committee.
Cheese, Goat adds salt, fat, and savory depth that give watermelon more structure and make the combination feel fuller.
Chili Powder adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against watermelon's natural base notes.
Cilantro adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping watermelon from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Cinnamon adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against watermelon's natural base notes.
cream
Cream adds richness and helps carry watermelon's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
cucumber
Cucumber adds complementary plant character, giving watermelon more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Fennel adds complementary plant character, giving watermelon more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Honey adds seasoning or sweetness that balances watermelon's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
Jicama adds complementary plant character, giving watermelon more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
kaffir lime
Kaffir Lime brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
lemon, juice
Lemon, Juice brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
lemon, zest
Lemon, Zest brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
lime, juice
Lime sharpens watermelon's sweetness and keeps its watery freshness vivid.
melon
Melon adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out watermelon's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
Mint gives watermelon cooling herbal lift, making the fruit taste even fresher.
Olive Oil adds richness and helps carry watermelon's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
orange
Orange brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
parsley, flat-leaf
Parsley, Flat-Leaf adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping watermelon from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Pepper, Black adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against watermelon's natural base notes.
Pepper, White adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against watermelon's natural base notes.
Pistachios adds nutty richness and texture that gives watermelon more contrast and substance.
pomegranate
Pomegranate complements watermelon by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
Raspberries adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out watermelon's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
salads, fruit
Salads, Fruit adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out watermelon's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
Salt, Kosher adds seasoning or sweetness that balances watermelon's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
salt, sea
Sea salt intensifies watermelon's sweetness and gives its high-water crunch more definition.
sorbet
Sorbet complements watermelon by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
soups
Soups adds structure and seasoning that helps watermelon integrate into a fuller dish instead of wandering around like an ingredient without a project manager.
sugar, brown
Sugar, Brown adds seasoning or sweetness that balances watermelon's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
sugar, white
Sugar, White adds seasoning or sweetness that balances watermelon's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
Tequila adds aromatic depth, warmth, or sweetness that helps watermelon work in drinks, sauces, desserts, or cooked preparations.
Tomatoes adds complementary plant character, giving watermelon more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Vanilla adds seasoning or sweetness that balances watermelon's sharper, richer, or earthier qualities.
Vinegar, Balsamic brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
vinegar, rice
Vinegar, Rice brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.
Vinegar, Sherry brings acidity and brightness that sharpens watermelon's flavor and keeps the pairing lively.