I show you how to make a silky watermelon sorbet without an icream machine and use those same flavours of summer and to make a mouthwatering appetizer. I show you what to look for to pick a ripe watermelon and introduce you to the Greek wine of Samos made from the muscat grape. FULL RECIPES BELOW:


Watermelon and Feta Appetizer

12 slices watermelon, seeds removed and cut into triangles
½ cup crumbled Greek goat and sheep’s milk feta (125 ml)
zest of ½ lemon
¼ tsp. sumac or to taste (2 ml)
4 Kalamata black olives, pitted, finely chopped
1 handful finely sliced mint , chiffonade
freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
2-4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (25 -45ml)

Cut twelve wedges of watermelon so that the wedges are ½-inch thick and shaped roughly in 3 x 3 x 3-inch triangle.

In a medium bowl, combine the feta, lemon zest, sumac, olives, mint, black pepper and olive oil. Toss gently to combine. – This can be made in advance , covered and refrigerated.

Sprinkle each watermelon wedge with some of the feta and olive mixture, drizzle with more olive oil and sprinkle with sumac and garnish with mint leaves. Serve immediately.

Serves 12

Watermelon Sorbet without a Machine with Feta crumb

50 gm sugar
50 gm water
450 gm seeded watermelon pieces - frozen at least 2 hours
juice of 1/2 lemon
60 gm Greek feta crumbled and frozen
1/2 tsp. sumac
mint sprigs for garnish



Freeze watermelon a baking sheet for at least 2 hours.

Make the simple syrup by combining the sugar and water in a small pot. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.

In a blender, combine the frozen watermelon pieces , chilled simple syrup with Samos wine and lemon juice . Blend until throughly creamy in a high speed blender. Scrape down to make sure there are no pieces of watermelon . Transfer to shallow sealable container. Freeze for 2 hours and if you want a creamier texture return to the blender once more . Transfer back to container and freeze overnight.

Before serving, remove from freezer for 15 minutes or until scoopable. Freeze glasses and serve sorbet with a dusting of frozen feta crumbs and sumac. Garnish with mint leaves.

Serves 6 -8

#watermelon #feta