Recipe

Watermelon chili sliders

Watermelon chili sliders

Photo 1 of 4
by Sagegreen

Watermelon chili sliders

Photo 2 of 4
by Sagegreen

Watermelon chili sliders

Photo 3 of 4
by Sagegreen

Watermelon chili sliders

Photo 4 of 4
by Sagegreen

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Chili Pepper Recipe
    This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Fair Food
  • Chef

    Sagegreen's Notes: Adapting a watermelon appetizer idea, I have added fresh hot serrano pepper with a white balsamic vinegar. I first tried these out with my pickled peppers, but in the end decided that I prefer...

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Makes 24

chilled seedless watermelon cut into 24 bitesize cubes, each roughly around an inch and a half Ask a question about this ingredient

squeeze of 1 fresh lime Ask a question about this ingredient

drizzle of premium extra virgin olive oil (I used Nudo's stone ground with basil) Ask a question about this ingredient

@ 3 tablespoons white or golden balsamic vinegar ( or your favorite shrub, if you prefer) Ask a question about this ingredient

3 serrano (or jalapeno peppers), cut into 24 small pieces Ask a question about this ingredient

generous pinch of Aleppo pepper Ask a question about this ingredient

generous pinch of artisan coarse salt such as Bolivian rose, black Hawaiian, or Maldon Ask a question about this ingredient

  1. Line up the cut and chilled inch and a half watermelon cubes. Spritz these first with lime juice and then drizzle with the olive oil. To cut the chili peppers, you might want to quarter slice each one lengthwise first and then half each quarter. Wipe away the seeds. Trim up the pieces if you like.

    Ask a question about this step
  2. Next using a teaspoon carve out a narrow elliptical cavity almost half an inch deep from the top of each one, on the bias. I create the half the cavity with the spoon with its concave side facing the center of the cube and then go in opposite (see photos). Fill the cavities with the vinegar.

    Ask a question about this step
  3. Transfer to a serving platter. Stick one toothpick into each slice of chili pepper. Insert one in each watermelon cube. Finish with a sprinkle of Aleppo pepper and artisan salt just before serving.

    Ask a question about this step

57 Comments on Watermelon chili sliders

Reply

ooh i would LOVE one of those RIGHT now.

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, h.c.r!

Morgan3x5bw Reply

Yu-um.

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, SoE!

Reply

Wow! Your creativity is amazing!

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks,om!

Oldies_joemare_bd Reply

So glad to see these beautiful little bits of deliciousness again! You are right, so nice to see a healthy addition,

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, s. I love making and eating these!

Img_2764 Reply

Oh, welcome back to these beauties!

Dsc_0122 Reply

A sight for sore eyes!

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, guys. I think these would be a healthy addition to the fair.

_mg_0362 Reply

ohhhhhhh this looks exciting

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks so much, Jestei. They are pretty easy and healthy....and disappear pretty fast!

Ab_sum Reply

Oops, I accidentally erased the line to wipe out the seeds of the chili peppers after cutting them in one of my edits. So please don't include the seeds!

Me Reply

What a fabulous combination (and a great foto, too)!

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, wssmom. Your frittata sounds wonderful, too!

Me Reply

You know, I betcha these would be good, too, with tequila in place of the balsamic, for an interesting twist!

Ab_sum Reply

You know they would! I first had watermelon cubes which were scooped out with a melon baller and then filled with little vodka shots.

Cimg0737 Reply

Wow -- what an inventive idea. Love the combination of flavors that you have created here: watermelon, chili, and vinegar. Sounds like the perfect antidote for a hot summer day. And your photos are stunning -- these look too pretty to eat!

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks so much, civ. You can make these whatever size you consider to be the perfect bite; their looks and size make them really easy to eat, trust me!

Stringio Reply

So simple, but yet so complex. Love it.

Ab_sum Reply

Thank you so much for that observation, lll.

Chocolate_peppermint_truffle_cookies_032 Reply

I am TOTALLY making these!!!

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks so much, ChezSuzanne. Let me know what you think if you try these.

Fb Reply

I've been pondering what to serve as an appetizer tomorrow evening and then saw your watermelon sliders...so perfect for a warm summer night!

Ab_sum Reply

If you serve them, please let me know what you think! Thanks, BKR.

Shamrock-medal Reply

This sounds awesome, and perfect for a hot & humid day. I bet it would be good with some drinking vinegar (aka shrub) in place of the balsamic.

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, hla. What a great suggestion!

Lorigoldsby Reply

that is beautiful! did you use the black hawaiian salt?

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, lori. Yes, I just got both black Hawaiian and Bolivian rose salts from cubemarketplace! They are so good, too!

Reply

Hi there, what plugin do you use to get your print, email, share, etc tab below the picture?

Ab_sum Reply

Hi, Melissa. I haven't added anything particular so I am not sure what you might need. If you have any problems, you might want to email the editors (editors@food52.com) for suggestions. They have always been helpful.

Lorigoldsby Reply

it will automatically appear--you don't have to do anything.

Checker Reply

Pretty!

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, checker.

Blue_cropped Reply

This would be so beautiful dunked in a martini (sans the balsamic).

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, Hilarybee. I had thought of that, sans oil, too!

Dsc_0122 Reply

wont work for me.. they look too cute to gobble up.. oh well I'll just shut my eyes then!

Ab_sum Reply

Aw, go on and gobble!

Copy_of_me Reply

A terrific idea, Sagegreen...and I will take mine with a Vodka on the rocks chaser!

Ab_sum Reply

LOL, lapadia! After cocktail week I am switching over to salads myself! But I am sure these would be great with vodka or gin in the little cavity.

Copy_of_me Reply

:) The sunshine and warmer weather is just starting to show up around the PacNW, this seems a great way to celebrate it, oh, and with a great BBQ, of course :)

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

Wow! These are gorgeous!! Natural dayglo colors!

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, dymnyno. The sunlight caught them just so!

Img_2764 Reply

I'm with you on the need for cold food. Your invention is beautiful, and I love its flavors.

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, b, and welcome back! We missed you.

Img_2764 Reply

And I all of you!

Jc_profilepic Reply

Wow. These look and sound amazing. You are so inventive!

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, S_U! These evolved this afternoon.

Oldies_joemare_bd Reply

I love this cool and hot what a brilliant idea! Perfect hot weather appetizer.

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, sdebrango! I was going for the healthy salad angle.

Oldies_joemare_bd Reply

Another addition to my salad repertoire, thank you.

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks. Instead of sandwich sliders, I thought these would go down more easily. I just added another photo showing some black salt.

Profile Reply

And yowza!

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, Bevi. I just can't seem to cook anything this week, despite all these tempting, incredibly delicious chili recipes!

Img00019-20100929-0432_1_ Reply

Wowza!

Ab_sum Reply

Thanks, sLx!

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