Watermelon Rind Preserves

This recipe for watermelon rind preserves is one of the more unique watermelon recipes!

What you need:

• 1 1/2 quarts prepared watermelon rind
• 4 tablespoons salt
• 2 quarts cold water

• 4 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1/4 cup bottled lemon juice
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced (optional)
• 7 cups water

What you do:

To Prepare Watermelon Rind:

Trim green skin and pink flesh from thick watermelon rind; cut into 1 inch pieces.

Dissolve salt in 2 quarts water and pour over rind; let stand 5 to 6 hours. Drain; rinse and drain again.

Cover with cold water and let stand 30 minutes. Drain.

Sprinkle ginger over rind; cover with water and cook until fork-tender. Drain.

To Make Preserves:

Combine sugar, lemon juice and 7 cups water. Boil 5 minutes; add rind and boil gently for 30 minutes.

Add sliced lemon and cook until the melon rind is clear.

Pour hot preserves immediately into hot, sterile canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.

Wipe jar rims and adjust lids. Process 5 minutes in a boiling water bath.

Yield: 6 half pint jars.

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