👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the lime water soak. In a large bowl, dissolve the 2 tablespoons of food-grade lime in 1.5 liters of water. Stir well until mostly dissolved. Add the prepared watermelon rind cubes to the lime water, ensuring they are fully submerged. Cover and let soak at room temperature overnight (or for at least 8-12 hours).

   ⏱️ Overnight (8-12 hours)
2. 2

   Drain and rinse the rind thoroughly. After soaking, drain the watermelon rind and rinse it under cold running water for several minutes to remove any residue from the lime water. Taste a small piece to ensure no chalky flavor remains; rinse again if necessary. Place the rinsed rind in a large pot.

   ⏱️ 10 minutes
3. 3

   Prepare the spiced syrup. In a separate saucepan, combine the 1kg sugar, 500ml water, sliced ginger, and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for about 10-15 minutes to allow the spices to infuse.

   ⏱️ 20 minutes
4. 4

   Simmer the rind in syrup. Pour the hot spiced syrup over the drained watermelon rind in the large pot. Ensure the rind is mostly covered by the syrup. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover partially, and cook for 3 to 4 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. The rind is ready when it becomes translucent and tender, and the syrup has thickened slightly.

   ⏱️ 3-4 hours
5. 5

   Cool and bottle. Once the konfyt is cooked, remove the cinnamon sticks and ginger slices. Let the konfyt cool slightly in the syrup. Carefully ladle the watermelon konfyt and syrup into sterilized glass jars. Ensure the rind is fully submerged in the syrup. Seal the jars tightly.

   ⏱️ 30 minutes
6. 6

   Store. Allow the konfyt to mature for at least a few days before serving for the flavors to meld. Properly sealed and stored in a cool, dark place, it can keep for several months.

   ⏱️ Maturing: 2-3 days