To get the watermelon flavor to really come through in this thirst-quencher, you'll whir an ample amount of ripe cubed melon (seedless is best) in a blender with a little kosher salt. Be sure to strain through a fine-mesh sieve to avoid any pulp in the drink. More

There's a reason this Crispy Pork and Watermelon Salad is the signature dish at Zakary Pelaccio's Fatty Crab restaurants. It highlights the best of Pelaccio's cooking style, combining his love of Southeast Asian flavors with an irreverent American lean. More

This summery gin cocktail is sweetened with watermelon juice and elderflower liqueur. At Lucy's, they use Waterloo gin. More

No Spaniard would be caught putting watermelon in their gazpacho, but the idea was too intriguing to pass up. In this version from Lucid Food, there's no bread, but classic Spanish ingredients like blended almonds and smoked paprika carry the soup into a savory-sweet realm that's pretty delicious. To make the soup even brighter, I added lime juice, which goes wonderfully with watermelon. More

This sangria screams out for a hot, humid day. Fresh watermelon adds delicate sweetness, and a squeeze of lime heightens the tartness of the white wine. A sprig of mint wouldn't be out of place as a garnish. More

Back away from the Watermelon Pucker. Instead, make this simple, refreshing drink from cubes of real watermelon (it's mostly water!) and a little lime and tequila. The spicy rim is essential—each sip is a flash of heat, followed by the cooling cocktail. More

All summer long, I have designated a significant portion of my precious fridge space to watermelon. I've been blending Watermelon Margaritas, snacking on cool slices all day long, and mixing chunks of sweet watermelon into tomato salads. Since our time with both tomatoes and watermelons is coming to an end, I figured I should make my last watermelon salad of the year count. I chose Ginger-Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes with Watermelon, Burrata, & Spicy Arugula from Laurent Tourondel's Fresh from the Market as my final farewell. More

It's rare you can use the word "refreshing" to describe a dish, but man, does Jicama and Watermelon Salad ever fit the bill. A juicy, citrusy, virtually fat-free Bobby Flay recipe, it could replace ice water as your go-to revitalizer on warm summer days. More

The Tex-Mex Grill and Backyard Barbacoa Cookbook has no shortage of Texas-style cocktails, but these Watermelon Margaritas seemed refreshing enough to cool us down, even when the AC wasn't doing the trick. Instead of throwing all of the ingredients into the blender, Robb Walsh uses the watermelon in two ways. First the melon is cut into cubes and gently juiced through a colander to make smooth, entirely seedless, and virtually pulpless juice. Then the watermelon cubes are transferred to the freezer to cool and be used instead of ice cubes. More

[Photographs: Kerry Saretsky] Previously Dijon Lentil Salad with Lemon Roasted Shrimp » All French in a Flash recipes » I am not at all opposed to themed food. Last year's Valentine's column was a traditional Coeur à la Crème, a... More