Why Is Watermelon Actually a Vegetable?

Watermelons are traded as fruit in this country. Strictly speaking, however, this is not correct: botanically, watermelons, like all other melons, belong to the pumpkin family. The watermelon is actually a vegetable.

Nevertheless, in our regions, watermelons are eaten more than fruit. Its refreshing, subtle sweetness tastes great on its own or in a colorful fruit salad. But maybe it’s because the watermelon is botanically a vegetable that it can be combined just as well with savory foods for many watermelon recipes: With feta, onions and olives, for example, it becomes a summery salad. Watermelon can also be grilled in slices and, if necessary, you can add something spicy. Other types of melon, especially honeydew melon, also taste delicious in combination with salty ingredients, for example according to our recipe for melon salad with raw serrano and mozzarella.