How to Carve a Watermelon Bowl

Summer is time for patio and outdoors entertaining and picnics and parties. Cut and carve a watermelon to look like a Southwestern Salsa Serving Bowl. Fill it with Salsa dip surrounded by chips for dipping.

Things You'll Need

• 1 Round, seedless watermelon.
• Dry erase marker
• Utility knife or carving knife.
• Ice cream scoop or other large spoon.
• Spicy or mild Salsa.
• For garnish: chips, jalapenos, cilantro and lime and a lizard.

Instructions

1. Choose a round seedless watermelon. Wash the watermelon and pat dry.

2. 

   Use a dry erase marker to trace the design around the middle of the watermelon.

3. Use a utility knife to carve the design (copy design in photo).

4. 

   Split watermelon in half, and use a scoop to carve out flesh.

5. 

   Choose a flat area of rind on the other watermelon half to trace and carve out the lizard design (copy from image in photo).

6. Fill bowl with salsa. Garnish with chips, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime.

Tips & Warnings

• Have the whole watermelon at room temperature when you carve. The cuts will be easier to make when the watermelon is not cold. You can chill the watermelon in the refrigerator after cutting and before serving.

• Cut a small, thin, flat piece from the bottom of the watermelon before carving. This will make a flat base, making the watermelon more stable when carving.

• Draw the design on the watermelon rind with a fine/medium point waterproof marker or a sharp pencil before you cut.

• After you've drawn the design on the rind, insert toothpicks in key places to use as guides for your cuts.

• Use a sharp knife with a pointed tip - the sharper the knife, the easier and cleaner the cuts will be. Be careful!

• Consider using a channel knife for certain cuts and to hollow out larger areas.

• For better grip and to help protect your hands, use a fresh, new thick pair of gardening gloves with gripper palms.

• Choose a flat working surface on a solid base.

• For more detailed designs, draw a template first on a sheet of white paper with a marker or pencil.

• When finished, transfer the image to the watermelon surface by taping the paper to the melon and tracing along the design's lines with a pencil, making the design right on the watermelon surface.

• When attaching cut pieces on the watermelon to make your design, use round toothpicks or skewers. Flat toothpicks will often break due to weight of the piece or the thickness of the rind.

Resources

• Watermelon
• Carve a Smile
• Cut a Watermelon