Watermelon with lime ice lollies

Summertime always means we have watermelon to eat at home. I hate wasting any of this sweet summer fruit so have been making my kids watermelon with lime ice lollies. Since watermelon needs to be stored in a cool place it’s also a great way to use up half of the fruit if you’re low on fridge space.

Lime juice is a perfect combination with watermelon.  The watermelon puree is mixed with the lime juice and home made sugar syrup before it’s poured into ice lolly moulds.  My kids insisted on doing taste tests to come up with the perfect balance.

We even add a tiny pinch of salt which seems to subtly heighten the flavour.

Of course, my kids favourite moulds are the ones where they can sip the final bits after devouring their frozen delights.

Since we’ve lived in both the US and UK sometimes we call them ice lollies and others times popsicles. I only recently learnt that popsicle is actually a brand name that is now commonly used for ice pops in the States. Meanwhile in the UK lolly is a shortened version for the word lollipop.

Watermelon and Lime Ice Lollies

INGREDIENTS

• 500 g watermelon (cubed) (about 2 to 3 cups)
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 50 g caster sugar (1/4 cup superfine sugar)
• 60 ml water (1/4 cup)

DIRECTIONS

Combine water and sugar in small saucepan and boil for a few minutes to make a sugar syrup. Put aside to cool.

Cube fresh watermelon and puree in blender. Then pour through a fine sieve to get rid of any seeds.

Add cooled sugar syrup and freshly squeezed lime juice to watermelon. You can also add a tiny pinch of salt.

Pure into moulds for freezing.

Of course another favourite cold summertime treat is my homemade vanilla ice cream.

If only we had long hot summers in England but at least my kids get that refreshing summer taste running around our garden licking their watermelon with lime ice lollies – or if you prefer ice pops.