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
Ceviche with Melon
Ceviche is one of those dishes that's meant to be enjoyed on a hot summer day. And here, watermelon and cantaloupe are added to the mix to balance out zesty lime and spicy jalapeño.
This recipe calls for bass, scallops, and shrimp, but you can always use whatever combination of those ingredients you prefer or have on hand.
Ingredients
1/2 pound sea bass or halibut
1/4 pound sea scallops, side muscles removed
1/4 pound raw shrimp, 25-30 size
2 oranges
2 limes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon minced jalapeño pepper
2 tablespoons minced green onions
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups watermelon, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup cantaloupe, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
Directions
Dice the fish and cleaned scallops into small cubes (about 1/4 to 3⁄8 inch square) or 1/4-inch thin slices. Peel and devein the shrimp, then cut in half lengthwise or dice. Set aside.
Zest the room-temperature oranges and limes separately. Set aside zest, then juice the limes and top off with fresh orange juice to make 1 to 1 1/4 cups of juice.
In a large bowl, combine the seafood with 1 tablespoon each of the orange and lime zests, the juice, olive oil, jalapeño, green onions and salt. Gently stir, then cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. The acid in the juice will “cook” the seafood. When the seafood is no longer translucent, add the watermelon, cantaloupe, mint and cilantro and stir gently. Use a slotted spoon to divide the ceviche among four small serving bowls.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Cucumber Melon Chutney
This chutney is prepared the same way salsa is, but it has a curried flavor that adds an Indian twist to fresh veggies and fruit.
Serve your chutney on slices of toasted baguette for a seasonal bruschetta, or add them to the top of fish tacos or grilled chicken.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups seeded and diced honeydew melon
1 1/2 cups seeded and diced cucumber
2 tablespoons minced red onion
1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons minced cilantro
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint
1 teaspoon curry powder (optional)
Juice of 1 lime
Salt to taste
Directions
In a large bowl, stir together all of the ingredients, tasting for salt. Refrigerate for at least one hour prior to serving.
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.
Recipe and photo adapted from Co+op
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.
Find the full recipe at Bon Appetit
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.
Find the full recipe at Edible Seattle
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.
Find the full recipe at Feasting at Home
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!
Find the full recipe at Bon Appetit
Sweet, Sour, and Spicy Pickled Melon
Yes, pickled melons are a thing!
Here, melons are quick-pickled in the fridge with sugar, white vinegar, and red pepper flakes for a summer treat that's sweet, sour, and spicy.
Enjoy your pickled melons straight out of the jar, or serve them on a charcuterie spread alongside cheese and prosciutto.
Find the full recipe at Fine Cooking
Chile-Lime-Honeydew Pops
This recipe doesn’t call for any added sugar, making it a low-carb, low-fat, low-calorie sweet treat that’s bound to fill that sweet tooth.
Honeydew adds a sweet component, while lime juice, lime zest, and limeade add a punch of zesty sour flavor.
You can make these ice pops ahead of time and enjoy them for up to a month.
Find the full recipe at EatingWell
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!
Find the full recipe at Half Baked Harvest
Summer Melon with Basil-Mint 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 mint and basil add a refreshing flavor to balance out zesty lime.
Find the full recipe at Bon Appetit
Grilled Shrimp with Melon & Pineapple Salsa
When they're cooked well, grilled shrimp are absolutely delectable.
Here, zesty grilled shrimp is served with a fruit-forward salsa that's made up of pineapple, melon, bell pepper, and red onion.
Serve your shrimp on a bed of lettuce or Mexican rice.
Find the full recipe at EatingWell
Wine Punch with Melon Ice Cubes
As with any sweet fruit, melon lends itself well to a variety of different drinks and cocktails.
Here, melon is scooped and frozen to create "melon ice cubes" that are used to keep dry riesling and triple sec nice and cool.
Lemon juice and lemon basil add a zesty and bright flavor that contrasts well with sweet melon.
Find the full recipe at Food & Wine
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.
Find the full recipe at Bon Appetit
Melons with Ginger Syrup
Of course, melons are absolutely delicious in a variety of recipes, but sometimes, the best way to enjoy them is chopped up and served with just a few simple ingredients. And this recipe is just that!
Calling for just 4 simple ingredients, this melon salad can be enjoyed as a healthy dessert or served as a side dish at a potluck.
If you wanted to make this salad just a tad more involved, you could add in chopped cucumbers for a cooling element.
Find the full recipe at Fine Cooking
Strawberry, Melon & Avocado Salad
At the very least, this salad is absolutely beautiful!
Cantaloupe, strawberries, and avocado are all arranged over a bed of spinach and topped off with simple ingredients like honey, sesame seeds, and mint.
Toasting the sesame seeds released their oil and provides a pleasant nutty flavor and texture to the dish.
Find the full recipe at EatingWell
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!
Find the full recipe at Gimme Some Oven
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.
Find the full recipe at Bow Hill Blueberries
Orange Fruit Salad
If you want an aesthetic fruit salad, consider this orange and yellow salad!
Featuring cantaloupe, orange, and mango, this is a Vitamin-C-rich salad that's citrusy and sweet.
You could also add in papaya and pineapple and still maintain the orange-yellow theme!
Find the full recipe at EatingWell
Black Bean with Melon(s) 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.
Find the full recipe at Food52
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!