Madison Square Eats: Watermelon Soju + recipes!

Big Apple Bites & Low Cal Cocktails

Madison Square Eats is back again for the month of May. That means you have 9 more days to get your hungry ass over to Madison Square Park for some delicious grub.

What stood out most at Mad Sq Eats this spring? Two words: Watermelon Soju...

Fresh watermelon juice with soju (essentially Korean vodka) in a half-shell. Need I say more?

If it wasn't $20/half-shell, we would have gotten seconds. Then I realized I could make this fresh, life-changing, summery  cocktail  cracktail at home! Here are two recipes to make your very own Skinny Vodka & Watermelon Cooler or Skinny Watermelon Gin Fizz:

Skinny Vodka & Watermelon Cooler

Ingredients:

*Makes 6 drinks

• 3 pounds watermelon
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 1/4 cup Triple Sec
• 3 Tbs fresh lime juice

Recipe:

Cut the watermelon into pieces and discard the seeds. In a blender, puree the watermelon flesh and strain the puree through a fine sieve over a pitcher. Discard the solids (this should make about 1 & 1/3 cups watermelon juice). Stir in the vodka, triple sec, and lime juice. Pour into glasses with some ice cubes, garnish with a slice of watermelon, and serve!

Skinny Watermelon Gin Fizz

Ingredients:

*Makes 4 drinks

• 4 cups diced watermelon
• 6 ounces gin
• 8 Tbs fresh lime juice
• 1 & 1/3 cups diet ginger ale
• Lime wedges, for garnish

Recipe:

Cut the watermelon and discard seeds. Puree 4 cups watermelon. Strain and divide the juice among 4 glasses. Top each glass with 1.5 ounces of gin (one shot), 2 tablespoons of lime juice, and 1/3 cup diet ginger ale. Garnish with watermelon wedges and lime wedges. Enjoy!