Melon Ball Salad with Mint

Memorial Day is this weekend, and if you’re still looking for a refreshing salad to serve at your barbecue - look no further. This is not your typical salad filled with vegetables, but a salad consisting of mixed melon balls, topped with a cool mint and honey-lime dressing. Melon is so refreshing on a hot summer day, and believe it or not, this fruit salad pairs well with many barbecue and picnic staples. Grilled meats such as chicken or fish go especially well with this refreshing dish.

 

This is one of those recipes that looks a lot more difficult to prepare than it really is. Although you’ll need a melon ball scoop, this dish comes together in under 20 minutes. If you don’t have a melon ball scoop you can slice your fruit into chunks, but I believe the ball shaped melon really make this dish. Another great thing about this salad is that it’s both child and adult friendly – I love that. As someone that has hosted many barbecues and picnics, it’s much lovelier when I can enjoy the time with my guests, versus cooped up in the kitchen, cooking several different dishes to please everyone’s pallet.

 

Ingredients:

½ a watermelon
1 cantaloupe melon
1 honey dew melon
Juice from 1 lime
1 tbs honey
2 tbs sugar
2 fresh mint sprigs, chopped

Directions:

1. Scoop out about 1 ½ cups each from each melon. And place in a bowl.
2. Wisk together the chopped mint, lime juice, sugar and honey, until the sugar has completely dissolved.
3. Add the vinaigrette to the balls and toss to combine. Taste. If the vinaigrette is too strong for your liking add more fruit, and toss to combine.