I've just discovered Martha Stewart's secret ingredient for watermelon dishes – and it's a stroke of genius

There's no denying that watermelon is the superior (and healthy) snack for the sunny season. Knowing how to store watermelon is key if you want to keep this sweet and juicy fruit at its best for your favorite dishes such as summer salad recipes and it's beautiful served with salty feta, shrimp or even duck dishes. Plus it's a wonderful ingredient in summer cocktails. ,My current obsession is Martha Stewart's watermelon punch.

And, the queen of hosting has done it again with this genius secret ingredient for watermelon to make this classic serve stand out from the crowd. Just a few artfully-arranged slices of watermelon are sure to entice guests looking for a cooling treat, but Martha Stewart recommends an interesting addition: ginger. Pair it with a couple more pantry staples and you've got a zingy and moreish watermelon dressing.

How to make Martha Stewart's watermelon dressing

According to Martha, ginger is the 'secret ingredient' to make watermelon even more delicious. To create her zingy dressing, all you need to do is add a teaspoon of finely grated ginger (use a xxxxx) to a bowl containing around a drizzle of honey (Martha uses some from her own bee hives, naturally) and a generous squeeze of lime.

Once these three toppings are combined, you can drizzle the mixture carefully over your watermelon slices – cut into about 1 inch-thich pieces and arranged in a zigzag pattern on the plate – for 'one of the most delectable, refreshing, crispy summertime desserts ever,' according to Martha. The dressing will give the fruit a gorgeous, glossy finish, and your guests will be desperate to know exactly why your watermelon tastes so good.

Try this savory alternative

If you're serving up watermelon slices for a savory dish rather than a sweet snack, Martha's secret recipe is the perfect base for a vinaigrette. I like to add a few tablespoons of olive oil to the mixture, along with a good pinch of salt and pepper, and garnish with fresh mint and basil. For a speedy watermelon salad, I toss mine with crumbled feta and chopped cucumber, too.

Serve up Martha's watermelon with these picks

With garden-to-table dishes at the top of the list when it comes to this year's summer food trends, I can't wait to introduce Martha Stewart's watermelon dressing to all my guests – it really is a stroke of genius.