It’s melon eating season y’all, and here’s a light melon salad perfect for a summer cookout, or just to have on hand for a snack. When I saw Giada make it a few years back on the Food Network I knew I had to try it. It’s perfectly sweet, with a hint of fresh mint, and it couldn’t be easier. Double the recipe – you’ll be glad you did.
You’ll need sugar, water, watermelon, cantaloupe, lemon juice and amaretto (optional) and mint.
Mint, my nemesis in the garden, but so handy in recipes like this one.
To begin, you will first need to create a simple syrup by combining the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat.
Bring to a low simmer and stir, making sure that all sugar is dissolved. It should only take a couple of minutes of simmering.
The liquid will thicken slightly and should remain clear. Remove from heat and let cool.
Note: There will be more syrup than needed for this recipe. You can refrigerate the remaining syrup for a few days to use in your favorite summertime drink.
Next, using a melon baller, scoop about 3 1/2 cups of watermelon.
And scoop the same amount of cantaloupe.
Place all melon balls into a large mixing bowl and set aside.
If you don’t have a melon baller, you could cut up the melon into about 1-1 1/2″ squares.
Once the simple syrup has cooled, in the pitcher of a blender, add the mint and lemon juice.
Add the amaretto and simple syrup.
Blend until the mint is finely chopped.
Pour the mixture over the melon pieces.
Combine well.
Serve right away, or cover and refrigerate until needed. It does get better the longer the syrup combo mingles with the melon, so let it mingle a while if you have time. Mingling is good.
It’s a fresh and tasty combo for sure. Enjoy!
Hope your summertime is filled with fun, flavor and some time to relax!
Adapted from Giada De Laurentiis.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 1/2 cups (approximately) watermelon balls
- 3 1/2 cups (approximately) cantaloupe balls
- 1/2 cup mint leaves, packed
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon amaretto
Instructions
- Begin by making the simple syrup. Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low simmer and stir, making sure that all sugar is dissolved. It should only take a couple of minutes of simmering. The liquid will thicken slightly and should remain clear. Remove from heat and let cool. (Remember: You are only using a portion of this syrup. Refrigerate the remainder for a few days if you’d like, for use in another recipe. It’s great for sweetening tea or water.)
- Next, using a melon baller, scoop about 3 1/2 cups of watermelon and 3 1/2 cups cantaloupe into a large mixing bowl and set aside. If you don’t have a melon baller you can always cut up the melon into about 1-1 1/2? squares.
- Once the simple syrup has cooled, blend 1/4 cup of the simple syrup, mint, lemon juice and amaretto in a blender until mint is finely chopped.
- Pour the mixture over the melon pieces and combine well.
- Serve right away, or cover and refrigerate until needed.
That is gorgeous! I am definitely going to have to try this some weekend for a summer party!
My mint is out-of-control in my garden, growing like a weed! This sounds like a great way to use it up!
Okay Monkey Two is going to devour that!! He goes out every morning waiting patiently for his melons. Beautiful photos and recipe.
Beautiful colours! This sounds so perfectly refreshing on a hot summer’s day. You could add other kinds of melon, can’t you? Like honeydew? So good!
Wei-Wei
This is pretty. I’ve never used a melon baller but I’ve wanted to because it seems like fun!
I love the thought of adding Amaretto.
YUUUUUM!
Yum! I love the mint and amaretto additions! Watermelon is probably the only fruit I will continue to eat long after my stomach has begun to hurt it’s so full. Very excited to try this out!
Absolutely gorgeous! The colours are so contrasting and yells out to you straightaway. With the addition of mint, I imagine it to be incredibly refreshing as well. A recipe for summer, for sure.
It so happens that I have all these ingredients readily available in my fridge and garden. I think I’m going to make this tonight. Beautiful photos!
this looks so good! Unfortunately my mint isn’t growing very well this year! It seems the parsley has taken over. So annoying!
This is seriously the most beautiful looking salad ever. Last summer I made a watermelon salad like this with feta cheese (recipe from Jacques Pepin) and it was amazing. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous!
This looks so wonderfully summery. I can say that mint is not my gardening nemesis, as it actually came back in my container garden all on its own this year. I’ve been tossing it in teas left and right, but I like this idea. So light and pretty. Thanks for the recipe!
Pretty and tasty!
wonderfully refreshing and so seasonal! GREG
This is adorable!So refreshing and perfect for summer. Melon balls look so cute and I will search for a melon baller tomorrow.
I was looking through Tasty Kitchen and saw this. It’s 9:30 at night, and your picture is seriously motivating me to go buy a melon baller. Now. This looks so good!
I wish I had found this recipe a few months ago when melons were still in season here – ill have to do this one next summer!!