Russian Pickled Watermelon

I picked up some of this last week. It was a revelation. Its not pickled watermelon rind, but rather the entire watermelon cut up and pickled. Imagine garlicky dill goodness dripping from red watermelon flesh. Apparently, this is a common Russian way to eat watermelon. I suspect it is not for everyone, but I really liked it. Something I wished I knew about sooner.

There are some recipes on line and I think I will give one a try, especially since it seems to be a rather simple refrigerator pickle. In the meantime, does anyone know of a source for Russian pickled watermelon? The pickled watermelon I picked up was from Village Market, but it doesn't seem that they have it regularly in stock.

GNR Chaihanna, in Buffalo Grove, has this on the menu.

I remember when I became a "grown up" (chronologically speaking) and was able to go shopping for myself, one of the first things I bought was pickled watermelon (I'd had it as a kid and thought it wonderful). I think it was Roland brand, and it was, in retrospect, not so good, and not nearly as tasty as Chaihanna's. Perhaps it's something we should try to make this summer.

I put a batch down in the fridge this afternoon. I'll let you know how it turns out in a week.

Saw some russian pickled watermelon at Fresh Farms in Niles yesterday. Whole refrigerator case [across from meats in deli] was filled with what seemed to be russian-style pickled items; watermelon, cherry tomatoes, kirby cucumbers, forget what else. The watermelon stood out to my eye as unusual. There was a sign in cyrilic lettering next to the case.

[They moved the lovely assortment of prepared salad items to a case across from where the restaurant - Pointe Plaza??? - used to be. Try the beet/walnut/prune salad. Tell them Жанна sent you.]