Easy Mint Melon Salad Recipe
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This light Mint Melon Salad Recipe is the perfect dish for a potluck, picnic or cookout, and just to have on hand for a sweet snack.
Years ago I remember seeing Giada make this Mint Melon Salad on the Food Network and I knew right away that I had to try it. It is sweet, but not too sweet, with a hint of fresh mint. It couldn’t be easier to make. Be sure to double the recipe. You’ll be glad that you did!
The ingredients of this Mint Melon Salad are pretty simple: sugar, water, watermelon, cantaloupe, lemon juice and amaretto (optional) and mint. Even though mint may be my nemesis in the garden, it is oh so handy in recipes like this one.
Begin by first creating a simple syrup by combining sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a low simmer, stirring occasionally. Make sure that all sugar is dissolved. It should only take a couple of minutes of simmering. The syrup will thicken slightly and should remain clear. Remove from heat and let cool.
(Please note that there will be more simple syrup than needed for this recipe. Yay! It’s great for sweetening tea, cocktails, or your favorite summery beverages. It can be kept covered and refrigerated for up to a week.)
Next, use a melon baller to scoop out the watermelon and the cantaloupe. You will need a total of about 6-7 cups of melon balls. Place all melon balls into a large mixing bowl and set aside. (If you don’t have a melon baller, you can simply cut up the melon into about 1-2 inch cubes.) Add the cooled simple syrup to the pitcher of a blender, along with the mint, lemon juice, and amaretto. Blend well until the mint is finely chopped. Pour the mixture over the melon pieces. Toss melon balls with mixture to coat well. And that’s it! So easy.
Serve right away, or cover and refrigerate until needed. It does get better the longer the mint amaretto syrup mingles with the melon. Let it mingle a while if time allows. Mingling is good!
This Mint Melon Salad is a fresh and tasty combo for sure and such a pretty dish for special occasions like Mother’s Day, a baby or bridal shower, picnics or potlucks. Wherever you decide to serve it, I think you will enjoy it!
More delicious fruit recipes as easy as this melon salad:
- Grilled Pineapple Mango Salsa
- Grilled Peaches with Margarita Cream
- Roasted Cherry Parfaits
- Peach Salsa Recipe
- Easy Roasted Fruit Recipe
Easy Mint Melon Salad Recipe
Mint Melon Salad
This refreshing melon salad with a mint amaretto syrup makes the perfect dessert or snack.
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 (substitute amaretto flavoring or vanilla extract, if needed)
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.
Originally published June 22, 2010.
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!!
Such a beautiful salad! Perfect for an afternoon snack or when friends come over for dinner
wasnt was i was looking for but looks good will try it this weekend and church