20 rind recipes

One of the best ways to incorporate the flavor of lemons, or any other citrus fruit for that matter, is to utilize the zest.

Sweet watermelon rind preserves made with a lime water soak, lemon, and ginger in a simple sugar syrup. A two-day heritage canning project that transforms scraps into glistening jars of gold.

Mom's old-fashioned watermelon rind pickles soaked in lime water, then simmered in sweet spiced vinegar syrup until jewel-like and translucent. A Southern heirloom canning recipe worth the wait.

Flambed ice cream sauce of buttered green grapes, hot chiles, rum, honey, and warm spices. A sweet-heat dessert topping that takes 20 minutes and shocks the palate awake.

An authentic basic salsa using dried chiles for use as a sauce for egg, Chilaquiles or Enchiladas. It also makes a nice spicy dip for tortilla chips.

Watermelon rind pickle: sweet-spiced preserves made from the often-discarded rind with cloves, allspice, vinegar, and sugar. A Southern canning tradition worth keeping.

Old-fashioned prune conserve with quinces, apples, oranges, watermelon rind, raisins, and chopped nuts. A thick, jammy fruit preserve with complex flavor from six different fruits.

Chilled fruit soup with spiked melon: champagne-sweetened fruit broth ladled over vodka-and-tequila-marinated melon, grapes, and plums. A grown-up summer starter built for heat waves.

Red curry paste from scratch with dried chilies, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, coriander, and shrimp paste. The authentic Thai foundation for curries and soups.

Authentic Thai red curry paste from scratch: dried chilies, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime rind, shrimp paste, and toasted coriander and cumin seeds blended into a fiery aromatic base.

Chicken pieces marinated in spiced yogurt with ginger, garlic, turmeric, and coriander, then grilled on skewers until charred and tender. Authentic Indian chicken tikka at home.

Creamy corn and bell pepper chowder: a low-fat skim-milk chowder with sweet corn, red bell peppers, scallions, and shallots. Pureed corn gives it body without heavy cream.

Emeril's pastrami sandwich: pastrami simmered in beer and whole-grain mustard, piled on grilled rye with charred onion rings. Ready in 20 minutes, one serious sandwich.

Blended dried fruit pudding made with peaches, apricots, dates, and pineapple soaked in lemon juice. A naturally sweet no-cook dessert with no added sugar.

Enjoy a hot summer day with this delicious drink made from bananas, mango juice and a bit of rum.

Carob pineapple thisbies are no-bake raw cookies made from pureed figs, dates, and carob powder mixed with pineapple, walnuts, and raisins, then rolled in cinnamon coconut.