Watermelon Pickles

Dib's's Note:

This recipe was given to me by a Grand Southern Lady who wrote on the recipe card-they's about the same-I like this best. I like them too.

• Total Time: 24 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 24 hrs
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 5 pints

• 2838.0 ml watermelon rind, cut into 1 inch squares
• 177.44 ml salt
• 2838.0 ml water
• ice cube (2 trays)
• 7.39 ml whole cloves
• 4 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
• 1892.72 ml sugar
• 709.77 ml white vinegar
• 709.77 ml water
• 1 lemon, sliced paper thin-seeds removed

Directions:

1. Slice the outer green and inner pink part of the rind.
2. Place in a large glass bowl and cover with a brine made from the 3/4 cup salt and 3 quarts water.
3. Cover with ice and let stand 6-7 hours.
4. Drain, rinse and drain again.
5. In a large pot add the rind and just cover with cold water.
6. Cook until JUST tender-around 10 minutes.
7. Dont overcook.
8. Drain.
9. Tie spices in a spice bag.
10. Combine sugar, vinegar, 3 cups water and spice bag and boil 5 minutes.
11. Remove spice bag-reserve.
12. Pour syrup over rinds and add lemon slices.
13. Let stand overnight at room temp.
14. Heat rind and lemon in syrup and boil.
15. Cook until rind is translucent-around 10 minutes.
16. Pack hot into clean hot jars.
17. Add 1 piece of cinnamon from the spice bag to each jar.
18. Cover with boiling syrup leaving 1/2 inch head space.
19. Process in a boiling water bath at altitudes up to 1000 feet.

Reviews

[kitchengrrl]

Oh MAN, is this stuff GOOD! I looked over several recipes and they were all about the same except for spices. I added 10 whole peppercorns and 10 whole allspice to this recipe, and it is OUTSTANDING! A bit sweet, but still GREAT!

[William (Uncle Bill) Anatooskin]

Hi Di Neal; Just finished making your WATERMELON PICKLES, Watermelon Pickles and they turned out super-great. I only had enough watermelon rind for 1/2 the recipe, so it was a samll batch. I made some CRYSTALIZED GINGER 2 days ago and had some syrup left over. I used this and added a bit more sugar and my, but it gave the pickles another flavor. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us. I am going out to buy a 22 to 25 lb. watermelon and will make a nice big batch. "Uncle Bill"

[Chabear01]

Dibs my dear I made these over a month ago, and just opened my first jar. I wanted a pickle just like the ones my Late DM used to make for the holidays, but she didn't use lemon rind, so I substitued lemon juice instead from one whole lemon. OMG!!! these are sooooo doggone good, and taste exactly like Moms. Thank you for giving me back a great memory, and wonderful pickle I used to love as a child.