Oven-Dried Watermelon Chips

Ingredients

- 1 seedless watermelon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 200°F (93°C). Ensure the racks are in the middle position to promote even drying.

2. Prepare the Watermelon:
Slice the watermelon in half and remove the rind. Cut the flesh into even, thin slices, about 1/8-inch thick. Aim for consistent slices for uniform drying.

3. Pat Dry:
Use paper towels to gently pat the watermelon slices, removing excess moisture. This helps the chips crisp up in the oven.

4. Season the Slices:
Arrange the watermelon slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle sea salt, ground black pepper, and smoked paprika evenly over the slices.

5. Bake in the Oven:
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 3 hours, flipping the slices halfway to ensure even drying. Keep the oven door slightly ajar (about 1 inch) to allow moisture to escape.

6. Check for Doneness:
After 3 hours, check the texture of the watermelon chips. They should be dry, crisp, and slightly shrunk in size. If they are not fully crisp, continue baking in 30-minute intervals until desired texture is reached.

7. Cool and Store:
Remove from the oven and let the chips cool on a wire rack. Once completely cooled, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Total Time

PT3H15M
3 hours 15 minutes

Type of Dish

Snack

Keywords

Watermelon chips, healthy snack, oven-dried, summer snack, fruit chips, vegan snack, gluten-free snack, low-calorie snack, crispy watermelon, oven baking

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 600

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