While Ducks Eatery in New York City offers a meat-centric menu, it recently introduced an intriguing plant-based dish in the form of a smoked watermelon ham. As William Horowitz, chef and owner at Ducks Eatery, explains, "we simply do the same thing we’ve been doing for thousands of years to meats—but we do it to a melon."
The process of making the smoked watermelon ham takes between four to six days, which involves brining the melon in coriander, oregano and salt and then drying it and smoking it. To finish off the "ham," Ducks Eatery makes sure the watermelon is based with olive oil, rosemary and its own juices. Due to the use of oakwood ash, the smoked watermelon takes on a unique look and texture that resembles a traditional smoked ham.
Savory Smoked Watermelons
Ducks Eatery Uses Its Expertise in Smoked Meat to Make "Watermelon Ham"
Trend Themes
1. Plant-based Smoked Foods - The trend of creating smoked plant-based foods opens up opportunities for chefs and restaurants to experiment with unique flavor profiles and appease the growing demand for plant-based options.
2. Innovative Food Preservation Techniques - The use of traditional preservation techniques, such as smoking, on unconventional ingredients like watermelons, presents an opportunity for food businesses to create novel and unexpected culinary experiences.
3. Alternative Meat Substitutes - Smoked watermelon ham demonstrates the potential for using alternatives to traditional meat products, highlighting the demand for sustainable and cruelty-free options in the meat industry.
Industry Implications
1. Restaurant and Hospitality - Restaurants can tap into the trend of smoked plant-based foods by offering innovative dishes like smoked watermelon ham, attracting both vegetarians and meat lovers looking for unique culinary experiences.
2. Gourmet Food and Specialty Products - The creation of smoked watermelon ham opens up a new market for specialty food producers with a focus on unique and artisanal products, appealing to food enthusiasts seeking unconventional gourmet experiences.
3. Food Preservation and Processing - The application of smoking techniques to non-traditional ingredients like watermelons presents opportunities for food preservation and processing companies to develop novel techniques for enhancing flavors and textures.