20 Refreshing Melon Recipes
Of all the wonderful things that summer brings, fresh juicy melon is definitely one of the best! And as with all summer fruit, you can enjoy melon straight out of the bowl, but there's a heap of delicious recipes made with juicy melon that are worth giving a shot
On that note, here's a list of some of our favorite recipes that feature perfectly ripe seasonal melon.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Cantaloupe Salsa
If cantaloupe is your favorite melon, check out this sweet and zesty fresh salsa!
This cantaloupe salsa is totally dippable with tortilla chips, or you can use it on top of fish or chicken tacos.
Ingredients
4 cups diced cantaloupe
1 large cucumber, seeded and chopped
1 large jalapeño, seeded and chopped
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large lime, zest, and juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon sugar, to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Directions
Place all ingredients in a large bowl. Toss to mix, and taste for balance. Add sugar to taste if the cantaloupe is very tart or bland. Store, tightly covered, for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Spicy Honeydew Salad
Sweet and juicy honeydew takes a savory turn in this Asian-inspired salad. A little kick from jalapeño and a sweet and sour vinaigrette transforms the bright green melon cubes into an exciting companion to grilled meats or stir-fries.
Ingredients
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon tamari
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
2 teaspoons honey
1 large jalapeño, minced
4 cups honeydew, cubed
1 medium cucumber, seeded and sliced
1 large avocado, cubed
1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
Directions
In a cup, stir the vinegar, tamari, ginger, honey and jalapeño. Reserve.
In a large bowl, place the honeydew, cucumber and avocado, then cover with the reserved dressing. Toss to coat. Serve sprinkled with peanuts.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Cantaloupe Ginger Mocktail
Make the most of fresh cantaloupe with this seasonal cocktail for your next garden party.
A quick spin in the blender turns the melon into a fresh and colorful mixer, sparkling with fresh ginger and lime. Add a splash of sparkling water for the perfect summer mocktail.
Ingredients
3 cups cantaloupe, cubed
2 tablespoons agave syrup
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup sparkling water
4 mint sprigs
Cantaloupe for garnish
Directions
In a blender, place the cantaloupe, agave, ginger and lime juice. Puree until completely smooth. Makes about 1 cup. Add sparkling water and mix well.
Divide between four glasses, add ice, stir and add a cube of cantaloupe as a garnish.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Cantaloupe Carpaccio
Thinly sliced cantaloupe is drizzled with a light vinaigrette and Parmesan cheese in this delightful appetizer.
Ingredients
1/2 medium-large cantaloupe
2 tablespoons shallots, peeled and minced
1/2 lemon, juice and zest
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
Pinch of salt and black pepper
2 ounces Parmesan cheese
Directions
Remove the rind and seeds from the cantaloupe. Cut into 3 or 4 wedges, and then, using a sharp knife or vegetable peeler, cut each wedge into long, thin slices.
Lay the slices out on a large plate or platter or divide evenly between small salad plates.
In a small bowl, whisk together the shallots, lemon juice and zest, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper. Drizzle the dressing over the sliced cantaloupe.
Using a vegetable peeler, shave Parmesan cheese into thin curls or slices. Top the dressed cantaloupe with the shaved Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
Recipe and photo courtesy of Co+op
Watermelon Cayenne Hot Sauce
There's something satisfying about combining sweet watermelon with spicy flavors.
And here, peak-season watermelon is combined with cayenne peppers to create a just-the-right-amount-of-heat.
If you've got a knack for canning you can make this recipe shelf-stable, otherwise it keeps well in the fridge for up to two months.
Photo courtesy of Feasting at Home
Chilled Cucumber Melon Soup
This slightly sweet and super refreshing chilled soup is particularly delicious on a hot summer day when cucumbers and melon are at their peak freshness.
This soup would be the perfect cooling appetizer for a grilled chicken dinner, or could defnitiley be enjoyed all on its own.
This recipe calls for cantaloupe, but honeydew would be totally delicious too. You might want to avoid watermelon, just because you won't get the same creamy texture that you'd get from other melons.
Cucumber and Melon Salad with Chile and Honey
A little spciy, a little tangy, and full of sweet melon, this simple salad of sorts would be a delicious and refreshing side dish for grilled meats or fish.
Shaving the cucumber and melon releases extra sweet and refreshing juicy goodness, while roasted pistachios add a contrasting crunch for the dish.
This recipe calls for ricotta salata, but if you don't have it on hand, feta or mizithra would work wonderfully!
Photo courtesy of The Chunky Chef
Honeydew Mint Ice Pops
Calling for just 4 ingredients, these minty honeydew pops are a great way to use any melon that’s past its prime freshness.
Honeydew adds a sweet component, while lime juice and mint add a refreshing, but zesty, contrasting flavor.
You can make these ice pops ahead of time and enjoy them for up to a month.
Melon Basil Burrata Salad with Crispy Prosciutto
Juicy, creamy, herby, crispy, and salty. This melon salad truly checks all the boxes!
Prosciutto is lightly baked to make it nice and crispy, making it the perfect contrast to juicy, firm melon.
Basil and perfectly ripe tomatoes add a refreshing element to balance out the sweet and salty ingredients.
Enjoy this salad at your next BBQ or potluck!
Sweet Melon Granita
A granita might be the simplest and most refreshing summer dessert.
It's icy and cool, and the perfect treat to fill that sweet tooth.
Not to mention, this recipe is quick and easy for those days when it’s so hot that you just can’t even.
Melon adds a touch of sweetness while sweetened condensed milk adds a creaminess to balance out the zesty lime.
Cantaloupe with Sugar Snap Peas and Ricotta Salata
In most recipes, melon is cut up into cubes.
But here, cantaloupe is sliced into thin ribbons to create a unique texture when it's paired with other ingredients like snap peas and ricotta salata.
With a simple drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of Aleppo-style peppers, this melon recipe is simple but full of flavor.
Photo courtesy of Love & Olive Oil
Prosciutto & Melon Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
At the very least, this salad is absolutely beautiful!
Cantaloupe is arranged over a mixed greens and topped off mozzarella and proscuitto before being drizzled with a simple 5 ingredient balsamic dressing.
Enjoy this salad as a meal in itself, or pair with grilled chicken or veggies.
Honeydew and Prosciutto with Greens and Mint Vinaigrette
Simple and delicious, this prosciutto and honeydew dish is perfectly sweet and salty.
This recipe calls for mixed baby greens, but we think peppery arugula and microgreens would be a delicious substitute.
With a simple dressing of olive oil and vinegar, the real star of the show is perfectly ripe melon.
Photo Courtesy of Cookie + Kate
Agua Fresca
Who doesn't love fruit juice?
Agua fresca is basically the best fruit juice you can enjoy because it's made fresh right in your own kitchen, and you don't even need a juicer to make it!
Made out of easy-to-blend fruits like melon, fresh berries, and pineapple, agua fresca is made with just 4 simple ingredients and is absolutely refreshing on a hot summer day.
This is also a great recipe to come back to when your fridge is full of too much melon than you know what to do with!
Cantaloupe & Blue Panzanella
Here's a Panzanella recipe from our friends at Bow Hill Blueberries that's the perfect summer dish to use up any stale bread you have kicking around in the pantry.
Day-old bread is combined with ripe blueberries and firm cantaloupe to create a simple side dish for outdoor dinners.
Basil and onion add a savory component to the dish.
Photo courtesy of Feasting at Home
Cantaloupe Salad with Mint
While cantaloupe is a delicious treat just on its own, transforming it into a summer side salad makes it that much more special.
Fresh mint and lime add an herby, zesty element while pepitas provide a nice crunch to contrast with soft melon.
Black Bean with Melons and Feta Salad
When you want a fruit salad that's going to give you a little more in the way of sustenance, consider this black bean, melon, and feta salad!
Serve this fruit salad on its own or alongside your favorite fish tacos.
Honey adds a subtly sweet component to the dressing while lime juice adds a touch of zestiness.
More Melon Recipes
Cantalope Bread from This Healthy Table
Honeydew Blueberry Lemon Cream Trifle from She Wears Many Hats
Sweet & Savory Cantaloupe Salad from Edible Madison
Tips For Picking a Perfectly Ripe Watermelon
Nothing is more disappointing than cutting up an entire watermelon just to find that it isn't quite ripe enough. You can avoid that heartbreak all together by learning a few tricks for ensuring that your watermelon is sweet and juicy rather than bland and disappointing.
1. The Field Spot Test
Given that melons grow on the ground, laying on their side, most of them have a spot that's not red. Usually, the spot is a white, cream, or yellow color. This is called the field spot, and it's the part of the melon that was touching the soil as it was growing.
The color of the field spot is a quick and easy way to tell if your watermelon is ripe. If it's a creamy yellow color, it means the melon is ripe. A white color, on the other hand, indicates that the fruit isn't quite ripe.
2. The Sniff Test
As with other fruits, a good way to tell if a melon is ripe is to give it a sniff. If it smells subtly sweet, it's ripe for the taking. But if it smells super sweet, it may be a tad overripe. But if you're planning on making a smoothie or sorbet, overripe isn't necessarily a bad thing!
3. The Sound Test
Have you ever seen someone knocking on a melon in the produce department? You might think they look silly, but there's actually something to it!
A ripe melon will make a deep, hollow sound. An unripe melon, on the other hand, will make a high-pitched sound.
If you ever are wondering whether a watermelon is ripe, you can always ask a team member in the produce department for assistance. They'd be more than happy to help!