Watermelon slush is a fruity superfood by itself, and more so when layered with buckwheat, chia pudding and vitamin-C-rich baobab powder. Kid-friendly and none of the sugars or chemicals typically found in colorful commercial slushes.
Watermelon Slush
This little frosty cup tastes just like watermelon ice cream. And it's a festive and fun as if it came off a child's ice cream truck treat, but whoa, does it pack a powerful nutritional punch!
Any one of these elements - buckwheat groats, chia seeds, watermelon and baobab powder - helps boost any meal. But add in all four and you have yourself a summer superfood!
And there are none of the ingredients typically found in commercial slushes. You know, the ones you can't pronounce, that double as floor varnishes on Saturdays, haha.
Seriously, I do not like to act holier than thou about diets and food choices.
But I don't think anyone is happy to be ingesting chemicals. So let's make a homemade slush, shall we?
It's actually so very easy using watermelon as a base. Watermelon is nature's slush.
Let's Talk About Watermelon
So, it's pink and water-y. It's delicious cold, and I prefer the ones with fewer seeds. But what is the story with watermelon?
When I was younger, roaming the beaches of Martha's Vineyard with my sister, I remember chomping on watermelon off the rind all the live long day. As I grew older, though, I learned "wisely" to avoid watermelon for it's high sugar content.
Today, amidst rising popularity in eating healthy, the spotlight on watermelon reveals a myth! Just because watermelon tastes sweet, doesn't mean it's sugar levels are super high.
In fact, the fruit is considered low in fructose levels and high in water. Specifically, it carries about 10 grams of sugar per cup; that makes it one of the low-sugar fruits.
So watermelon has been unfairly accused.
Just like potatoes, which have long been considered to be empty carbs. Now it's coming out they are actually very high in valuable fiber and several essential nutrients.
And just like corn, tainted with the GMO-reputation. Now, however the EWG.com emphasizes that while processed corn is probably genetically modified, fresh corn is not. Further, fresh corn is at the top of the "Clean 15" list because it is relatively free of pesticide contamination.
So watermelon, potatoes and corn have gotten a bad rap.
Just like me back in college when I blew up that chemistry lab table. Hey, it was only a small lab table.😄
Anyway, visit a discussion on breaking food myths here if you are interested in learning more.
Meanwhile...
How Healthy is Watermelon?
Watermelon is actually healthy in a number of ways.
It's pink color makes it clear it is high in the disease-fighter and heart-booster antioxidant lycopene.
And the fruit is super high in vitamin C - one wedge holds about 30% of your recommended daily need. So all that munching by the Atlantic Ocean is the reason I rarely caught a summer cold!
Watermelon is high in potassium, so perfect as a pre-workout snack. And high in magnesium, so great as a post-workout snack as well, supporting muscle recover and healing.
Finally, it's a super hydrater being 92% water, so eating it contributes to your daily water quota.
And this recipe is not just watermelon. Here is a bit of detail on the other superfoods I tossed in here..
- Buckwheat groats - are not a grain, but a seed that is high in both protein and fiber. Gluten-free, groats provide heart health and can help prevent diabetes and digestive disorders.
- Chia Seeds - contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and calcium
- Baobab powder - is a superfood high in calcium, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, B6 and bioflavonoids
So this slushy parfait is nutritionally potent!
How Easy Is This Watermelon Slush Recipe?
How easy is it to make? Super easy.
Freeze up watermelon chunks and briefly blend the watermelon into a slush. It seriously looks just like watermelon ice cream !
Rinse the buckwheat groats to remove the surface slime to improve their digestion.
Mix some chia seeds into your favorite yogurt, layer it up baby..
Like these jars? They are the famous Weck jars. They even come with lids and last forever. Buy them here.
OR try finding a jelly brand that comes in a nice jar that you can save and recycle as a parfait jar..
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Watermelon Slush
Ingredients
- 4 cups frozen watermelon chunks
- 2 tbsp baobab powder
- 2 cups plant yogurt Try my recipe for homemade cashew yogurt linked in the blog post..
- 2 tbsps chia seeds
- 8 tbsp buckwheat groats
- 4 tbsp key lime juice (or lime juice)
Instructions
Prep
- Prepare buckwheat groats. Rinse with cold water. You can also let them soak for 2-hours to overnight to make them softer. But you need to at least rinse to remove the bitter coating on the seed that nature puts there to protect it from bugs. Rinse after soaking, and set aside or refrigerate if there is to be a long wait.
- Make frozen watermelon bricks. Chop watermelon in 1-inch blocks and freeze on cookie sheets then bag and keep frozen for later use.
Make the Slushes
- Prepare the yogurt. Buy or make plant yogurt. Hand-stir in 2 tbsp lime juice and 1 tbsp baobab powder. Split the 2 cups of prepped yogurt into two portions. Stir the chia seeds into 1 of the cups of yogurt; leave the other plain white. Set both aside.
- Prepare the watermelon slush. Briefly blend up watermelon chunks, 2 tbsp lime juice and 1 tbsp baobab to make a slush. And I MEAN briefly blend. If using a high-speed blender, note that these blenders actually warm their contents if you run too long and you will melt the slush so be careful to blend very little.
Layer Parfaits
- To layer parfaits, add first soaked buckwheat groats, then plain yogurt, then chia yogurt. Pour the watermelon slush into each parfait glass to top. Dress with a mint leaf and cherry! Enjoy right away, melts fast!