The classic recipe for watermelons soaked in a barrel at home and various options for additives

Watermelons are not only eaten fresh, but also salted in a wooden barrel. Such fruits retain their beneficial properties and taste for a long time. Various ingredients are added to soaked watermelons - apples, peppers, cabbage, spices and herbs. The dish is combined with a side dish, meat, it is served as a separate appetizer.

Preparatory stage

Salting watermelons in a wooden barrel is an original solution in order not only to preserve the fragrant fruits for a long time, but also to get a new tasty dish.

Selection and preparation of watermelons

The success of salting directly depends on the correctly selected fruits:

• they should be moderately ripe or slightly unripe (overripe for peeing are not suitable);
• berries are taken without obvious damage: spots, scratches, dents and cracks;
• medium (no more than 2 kg) watermelons with a thin skin are suitable;
• the pulp should be pink and firm (soft, crumbly will not work).

Before proceeding to salting, the fruits themselves are prepared:

1. Rinse thoroughly with warm running water.
2. Dry well.
3. Make at least 10 symmetrical punctures with a toothpick so that the berries are well salted.

The berries are placed in a barrel and filled with pre-prepared brine so that it completely covers the contents.

Barrel preparation and storage space

Previously, only oak barrels were taken to soak watermelons for the winter. Now they use any kind of wood, plastic or ceramics.

By the way! In a wooden container, the dish acquires a rich taste.

Before use, the container is prepared:

1. Wash thoroughly with cold water.
2. Scald with boiling water at least 2 times.
3. Cover with a clean towel or rag to keep out dirt and take to a warm, closed place.

How to cook: a classic recipe

In a barrel, the berries are salted whole or in large pieces.

To prepare soaked watermelons in a barrel according to a classic recipe at home, you will need the following ingredients:

• medium-sized fruits;
• 10 liters of cold water;
• 1.5 kg of sugar;
• 400 g of rock salt.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. After careful preparation, the watermelons are placed in a barrel.
2. Salt and sugar are dissolved in water.
3. The fruits are completely covered with brine.
4. The container is covered with gauze, oppression is placed on top so that the berries do not float and are thoroughly salted. A small can of water or a stone is suitable as a load.
5. After 3 days, the barrel is moved to a cellar or other cool dark room. Leave to add salt for another 3 weeks.

Such a dish is served as an appetizer, side dish or dessert.

Important! To avoid fermentation, ready-made fruits are taken out with clean cutlery.

Variations

Foodies often experiment with the ingredients in a recipe.

For example, add the following ingredients:

• apples;
• honey;
• pepper;
• spices.

With apples

Apples add a characteristic sourness to fragrant watermelons.

Ingredients:

• medium-sized watermelons - 10 pcs.;
• water - 10 l;
• medium apples - 6 kg;
• table salt - 745 g;
• currant leaves - 10 pcs.;
• cherry leaves - 10 pcs.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. The ingredients and the salting container are pre-prepared.
2. The berries are placed in layers in a barrel, alternating with apples.
3. Cherry and currant leaves are placed on top.
4. The salt is completely dissolved in water. The resulting brine is poured into the ingredients.
5. Cover with gauze on top and set the oppression.

The barrel is kept in a cool place for 2-3 weeks.

With pepper and herbs

Another original, but no less delicious recipe.The spices will add a spicy flavor to the berries.

Ingredients:

• watermelons - 5 kg;
• hot pepper - 1 pod;
• garlic - 1 head of medium size;
• black peppercorns - 1 tsp;
• parsley - 1 bunch;
• dill - 1 bunch.

Brine:

• water - 3 l;
• table salt - 175 g;
• granulated sugar - 170 g.

How to soak watermelons:

1. The fruits are cut into medium-sized slices and placed in layers in a barrel.
2. Add cloves of garlic, chopped hot peppers, spices and chopped herbs.
3. Brine is prepared from water, salt and sugar. Cover the contents of the barrel with it.
4. Cover with gauze and oppression.

After the berries begin to ferment, they are lowered into the basement or cellar.

With cabbage

An unusual dish will turn out if fruit is replaced with watermelons in sauerkraut with apples.

Ingredients:

• watermelon - 10 kg;
• pre-salted cabbage - 600 g

Brine:

• boiled water - 10 l;
• sugar - 0.5 kg;
• salt - 0.5 kg.

Preparation:

1. In a previously prepared barrel, lay the fruits, cut into large pieces, in layers.
2. Cabbage is evenly distributed between them. Layer thickness - at least 10 cm.
3. All contents are filled with brine.

Sour a snack for 2 days at room temperature. Then they are removed to the cellar.

Attention! The contents are checked periodically for mold. If it appears, it is removed, the watermelons are poured with fresh brine.

The fruits prepared in this way are stored until mid-winter.

In its own juice

Fermented watermelons in their own juice is an exotic dish. Pieces of fruit neatly laid out on a plate will decorate any table and surprise guests.

Ingredients:

• small watermelons - 10 kg;
• watermelon pulp - 5 kg;
• juice - 6 l;
• salt - 60 g.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. A layer of whole fruits is spread on the bottom of a previously prepared barrel.
2. Sprinkle everything with pulp mixed with salt.
3. The layers are alternated until the container is completely filled.
4. Pour everything in juice.

The snack is infused for 7 days at room temperature, then transferred to the cellar. Consumed after 3-4 weeks.

With sand interlayer

Watermelons are salted in a barrel not only in the traditional way, but also with sand. The material preserves the berries until next summer.

Important! For such a recipe, fruits with a thick peel are taken - a thin one is capable of bursting.

Ingredients:

• small watermelons - 6 pcs.;
• currant leaves - 14 pcs.;
• cherry leaves - 13 pcs.;
• thoroughly washed river sand - 10.5 kg;
• coarse salt - 755 g;
• water - 10 l;
• apples - optional.

Preparation:

1. The fruits are placed in layers in a prepared barrel.
2. Shifted with currant and cherry leaves. If desired, the free space is filled with apples.
3. Gradually fill the container with sand so that the topmost layer is at least 6 cm.
4. The salt is dissolved in boiling water. The cooled brine is poured over the fruits. The liquid level should be 10-15 cm higher than the sand level.

Since the sand will gradually settle, thickening, the brine is periodically poured. Otherwise, the watermelons will go bad.

The berries prepared in this way are ready to eat in 3 weeks.

With mustard powder

Salted watermelon with mustard is one of the most popular and favorite recipes of many gourmets. This is a cross between a spicy vegetable appetizer and a sweet dessert.

A barrel of 100 liters will be needed:

• medium-sized fruits with a thin crust - 21 pcs.;
• water - 10 l;
• salt - 800 g;
• granulated sugar - 400 g;
• mustard powder - 200 g.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Brine is prepared: salt, sugar and mustard are dissolved in boiling water.
2. The barrel is filled with liquid so that it covers the fruit by 10 cm.
3. The container is kept covered in a cool place for 21 days. Check the content periodically. If mold appears, remove it and add brine.

Terms and conditions of storage

So that the snack does not lose its taste for a long time and does not deteriorate, the terms and conditions of storage are observed:

1. A barrel with freshly salted fruits is left in a room at room temperature for about a day (the specific period depends on the chosen recipe).
2. Then the container is placed in a cool cellar for at least 21 days.

Subject to the terms of salting and storage conditions for watermelons consumed until mid-winter. When using river sand - until summer.

It is interesting:

Whether watermelon is a diuretic or not.

Watermelon compatibility with milk and other products.

What is a watermelon: what family the fruits belong to, what are they and how are they useful.

Conclusion

Soaked watermelons in a barrel will not only become a beautiful and original snack on the table, but also remind you of the pleasant taste of summer. The fruits prepared in this way retain vitamins and minerals well. There are many recipes. To get a spicy dish, pepper, herbs or mustard are added to the berries; apples and cabbage will add sourness.