I’m almost positive this combination started out as someone’s pregnancy craving, because never in a million years would I have thought to put mustard on watermelon. Leave it to TikTok to create yet another polarizing food trend that doesn’t end up being as bad as you think it’ll be. Apparently banana peel pulled “pork” was just scratching the surface, so make sure to try this one out for yourself before you comment on the TikTok videos, because you just might change your mind — at least that’s what happened to me.
Since I’m already a big fan of strawberries in salad, and I always eat my mangoes with Tajín, I decided I might as well give this a chance, too. How bad could it be? Once you take off your TikTok goggles and remember that fruit doesn’t always have to be sweet, eaten as is, or baked into a pie, watermelon and mustard doesn’t seem like that questionable of a combo. In fact, after trying it, I totally understand why it’s been getting such a positive response. With only two ingredients, it’s a really easy snack to put together. All you have to do is cut the watermelon into slices, squirt some mustard on them, and it’s ready to eat. Pro tip: Make sure you don’t put the mustard on the watermelon all at once, because it’s best in moderation.
@lizzo
#stitch with @yayayayummy ummmm I ended up just eating it w tajin 🤭
The resulting flavor is like the stepsister of salty-and-sweet, and the peppery bite of the mustard surprisingly complements the sweetness in the watermelon. You know how espresso brings out the flavor of chocolate, and salt brings out the flavor of caramel? This has the same effect. I tried the watermelon with yellow mustard like the original TikTok, as well as with spicy brown, Dijon, and honey mustard just for kicks and giggles. I found it only really works with the yellow because the spicy brown and Dijon were too overpowering, and the honey mustard gave it an unpleasant buttery flavor. If you don’t like mustard, putting it on watermelon probably won’t change that, but if you love it, you’ll probably find this is the best way to eat watermelon. And from the looks of their TikToks, it seems like Lizzo and Blogilates agree.
@blogilates
#stitch with @yayayayummy I had to try it #watermelonmustard #foodcombo
I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat watermelon with mustard all the time, but I could definitely see myself enjoying it once in a blue moon. As for whether it’s #bussin or #disgusting, my verdict is that it’s more of an acquired taste, though not at all disgusting. And the more you eat it, the better it gets.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Kalea Martin