Grilled Watermelon Steak: A Great Appetizer Recipe

This recipe for grilled watermelon steak makes a great appetizer with a refreshing and tangy taste. Topping it with cheese, balsamic glaze and fresh basil leaves create the best bbq appetizer for your next cookout. 

Jump to:

• Introduction
• Instructions
• Recipe Variations
• FAQ
• Grilled Fruits and Vegetables
• Recipe origins
• Recipe

Introduction

Yes, that’s right, grilled watermelon!

Have you ever tried it?

I assure you that once you do, there is no going back.

Grilling is a great way to add an extra layer of flavor when cooking meat or vegetables. Fruits can also benefit from being grilled, as they taste even more delicious than you would expect!

One perfect example is this recipe for grilled peaches. The heat intensifies the sweetness of the fruit by caramelizing the natural sugars.

It is worth mentioning that we are not cooking the fruit. In this recipe, the watermelon is seared on a very hot grill for a few minutes on each side, giving it a fantastic flavor.

Garnishing it with cheese is another flavor enhancer. You can use either ricotta salata, feta, or even goat cheese.

This is not the first time I have paired watermelon with cheese. If you recall, this watermelon feta salad also highlights the wonderful combination of sweet and savory.

The cheese contributes a salty, almost tangy flavor to the dish. As strange as it sounds, the cheese’s saltiness brings out the grilled watermelon’s sweetness and provides the perfect balance in this dish. 

This recipe is perfect for an outdoor summer party. It will provide your guests with a refreshing, tangy appetizer or simply irresistible side dish.

Here is how to make this easy watermelon starter! 

Instructions

This recipe will make a fantastic watermelon appetizer or side dish for four. It’s easy to double or triple the ingredients depending on how many guests you’re hosting.

The first thing we will do is slice the room-temperature watermelon.

If you have a large watermelon, cut it in half and then again to obtain one quarter. Slice the ends off and the rest of the melon into four 1-inch wide slices. There is no need to remove the rind. 

Place one tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl. Then, brush it on both sides of the watermelon quarters.

Preheat the grill (indoor or outdoor) to medium-high heat.

Place watermelon steaks directly on the grill and sear each side for approximately 2 minutes or until you obtain grill marks. This is a quick process as we are not cooking the watermelon. 

Remove the watermelon from the grill and allow it to cool down slightly before garnishing each slice with Ricotta Salata or feta cheese (6-8 ounces, separated).

Then, top watermelon wedges with fresh, torn basil (2 tablespoons, separated), a few pinches of sea salt and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.  This will round out the flavors of this delicious fruit appetizer.

Just like that, you can create the perfect, no-fuss appetizer for your next get-together with family and friends.

Recipe Variations

Different herbs and spices are a great way to customize this refreshing appetizer. For example, replace the basil with mint or cilantro for an altogether different taste! If you like heat, add a few pinches of fresh or dried chile. A sprinkle of smoked paprika also works well.

FAQ

Grilled Fruits and Vegetables

Grilling fruits and vegetables is a simple way to add some variety and flavor when preparing a summer BBQ menu. Be sure to try these recipes for grilled radicchio and grilled fennel. 

Recipe origins

As an avid collector of recipes, and much to my husband’s dismay, I have boxes and boxes of food magazines stored in my garage. This recipe is inspired by one I originally clipped from a Bon Appétit magazine, dating back to 2005. Thanks to the power of the internet, the original recipe can be found here.

The original dressing consisted of lime juice and olive oil. Over the years, I have made a simple recipe even simpler. Just before serving, I drizzle the balsamic glaze over the grilled watermelon. That’s it. I have also excluded the pine nuts included in the original recipe.

I encourage you to adapt this recipe to your personnel preferences. My family and I love ricotta salata, but if you prefer, either feta or goat cheese works well in this recipe.

Each bite of this easy, refreshing and delicious bbq watermelon recipe will give you a burst of flavor.

Do you have other grilled watermelon recipes that you enjoy? Let me know in the comment section below. 

★★★★★ If you have made this grilled watermelon appetizer recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe

This post was originally published on July 1, 2017 and republished on July 27, 2019 and again on June 10, 2022 with updated content and photos. Thanks for sharing.