• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Spice Adventuress

Food and Stories......without Borders

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Let’s Work Together
  • Portfolio
  • Travel
  • Restaurants
Home » All Recipes » Watermelon Curry

Watermelon Curry

March 10, 2015 by Dhanya Samuel 26 Comments

Jump to Recipe

What is a curry?

The age old question that has been debated much and beyond with no hope of an answer in sight!

Well, I do not wish to get into the origin of this word; Wikipedia does a good job of that. Neither do I wish to get into what the world defines a curry.

For the average Indian, a curry refers to any dish that is in the form of flavourful gravy. When we cannot find a traditional name to the dish, we end up calling it a curry anyway.

So is the case with this watermelon curry.
Watermelon Curry - a mildly spiced aromatic curry with watermelon rind and flesh - thespiceadventuress.com
 
It does not fit in with the global definition of a curry but for an Indian, this would classify just perfect.

Watermelon curry?? I am sure that’s the thought running through your head right now if you haven’t heard of this dish before. It was the same apprehensive feeling I had when I first came across this dish in saveur.com

I knew this curry was going to be an awesome one while scrolling down the list of ingredients but still somewhere in my head was the nagging thought, ‘will it be too sweet’?

Apparently, the watermelon curry is a famous dish in Rajasthan and is enjoyed with both phulkas (Indian wheat flat bread) and rice. I had it both ways and enjoyed it just the same.

Yes, there is sweetness from the watermelon but then there is a whole lot of flavour from the spices that penetrate deep into the melon pieces to give us a delicious, refreshing and light dish.

This is a curry that can be a perfect example to the fact that spices do not mean heat but flavour. The cumin, carom seeds, nigella seeds and dried chillies release all its flavour into the oil and cuts into the sweetness of the melon pieces. The soft rind of the watermelon adds just the right amount of bite and texture to an otherwise soft dish.
Watermelon Curry - a mildly spiced aromatic curry with watermelon rind and flesh - thespiceadventuress.com
 
Believe me, this is a dish you will enjoy so make sure to give it a try.

Watermelon curry – sweet juicy chunks of watermelon in a flavourful gravy of spices and aromatics.

Indian style watermelon curry in black bowl
Print Recipe

Watermelon Curry

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 kg seedless watermelon with rind
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • ½ tsp ajwain/carom seeds
  • ½ tsp cumin seeds
  • ½ tsp nigella seeds black onion seeds
  • 3 dried red chillies broken into small pieces
  • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • salt to season
  • ¼ tsp turmeric powder
  • 2 tsp fresh coriander leaves finely chopped

Instructions

  • Cut the outer dark green layer of the watermelon rind keeping the inner whitish-green rind intact. Remove the red flesh of the watermelon from the whitish rind; dice both separately and keep aside.
  • Heat oil in a pan and add the whole spices; ajwain, cumin, nigella and dry red chillies. When fragrant, add the garlic and sauté on medium heat for about 30 seconds.
  • Add the watermelon rind pieces and turmeric powder, mix well and season with salt. Cover and look for about 6-7 minutes till the rind has browned and softened. Do not add any water.
  • In the meantime, blitz half the watermelon flesh pieces and keep aside.
  • After 7 minutes, add the blitzed watermelon pulp and ½ cup water; mix to combine and cook covered till the rind has become tender.
  • Then add the remaining flesh pieces and cook on high for 3-4 minutes.
  • Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve warm.


Watermelon Curry - a mildly spiced aromatic curry with watermelon rind and flesh - thespiceadventuress.com
Watermelon Curry - a mildly spiced aromatic curry with watermelon rind and flesh - thespiceadventuress.com
 
 

Previous Post: « Ambarsari Fish Masala
Next Post: Kerala style Grilled LeatherJacket in Banana Leaf »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. whitegirllovesindianfood

    March 17, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    So interesting!

    Reply
    • vanyadhanya

      March 17, 2015 at 10:34 pm

      It is indeed

      Reply
  2. champagnecole

    March 15, 2015 at 5:49 am

    What a clever idea. I love that you are using the entire watermelon too.

    Reply
    • vanyadhanya

      March 15, 2015 at 9:45 am

      the rind is really delicious.

      Reply
  3. Vasun

    March 13, 2015 at 5:18 am

    What an interesting curry! I’ve never heard of it.

    Reply
    • vanyadhanya

      March 13, 2015 at 6:18 am

      It is popular in Rajasthan

      Reply
  4. aryana0821

    March 12, 2015 at 9:22 am

    Nice , never try watermelon curry .Sound good 🙂

    Reply
    • vanyadhanya

      March 12, 2015 at 10:34 pm

      You must give it a try Aryana

      Reply
  5. Elaine @ foodbod

    March 11, 2015 at 3:32 pm

    Wow! How interesting!!!

    Reply
    • vanyadhanya

      March 11, 2015 at 10:38 pm

      Indeed, a very interesting dish

      Reply
  6. indusinternationalkitchen

    March 12, 2015 at 12:47 am

    How interesting and wonderful! My grandma used to cook watermelon rind as a sabzi but this looks very delectable. Will try it soon! 🙂

    Reply
    • vanyadhanya

      March 12, 2015 at 2:23 am

      the watermelon rind tastes amazing in this dish; I can see myself using it much more frequently now.

      Reply
  7. Charanya

    March 11, 2015 at 3:10 am

    On my to do list now 🙂

    Reply
    • vanyadhanya

      March 11, 2015 at 6:51 am

      go for it; and do let me know what you think about it.

      Reply
      • Charanya

        March 11, 2015 at 9:15 am

        Will do. I was just skimming through your post. You use ripe melons right?

      • vanyadhanya

        March 11, 2015 at 10:55 am

        yes, ripe but not overripe

      • Charanya

        March 11, 2015 at 11:01 am

        Thanks <3

      • Charanya

        April 21, 2015 at 9:03 am

        Hey, I have frozen the rind. You think it will work? Else, gotta buy a new one

      • vanyadhanya

        April 22, 2015 at 12:45 am

        never made with frozen rind but I think it should work.

  8. chefceaser

    March 11, 2015 at 7:18 am

    Reblogged this on Chef Ceaser.

    Reply
  9. mscate

    March 10, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    just fascinating! It’s so weird (in a good way) that I might have to give it a try

    Reply
    • vanyadhanya

      March 10, 2015 at 10:23 pm

      You must; its a delight to have

      Reply
  10. luckystaranise

    March 10, 2015 at 7:20 pm

    Looks mouthwatering – such beautiful pictures!

    Reply
    • vanyadhanya

      March 10, 2015 at 10:23 pm

      thanks a ton

      Reply
  11. Mr Fitz

    March 10, 2015 at 8:12 am

    Very cool

    Reply
    • vanyadhanya

      March 10, 2015 at 9:03 am

      thanks

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Find A Recipe

NEVER MISS A RECIPE!

Sign up for new recipes, tips, techniques to make cooking more fun. Also find inspiration to plan your next holiday or the best restaurants to dine out.

Hi, I am Dhanya. The Spice Adventuress is my alter ego. Through her, I fulfill my desire to put my thoughts into words, explore my restless creative soul and express it through food and photography.

Read My Journey


© 2025 • The Spice Adventuress • Privacy Policy • Disclosure Policy