4 Delicious Honeydew Recipes

Honeydew melons are the sweetest of all melons. They are low in cholesterol, saturated fat and sodium. Honeydews are a good source of folate and vitamin B6 and an excellent source of potassium and vitamin C. One serving of honeydew provides about half of the necessary vitamin C daily dosage. The honeydew melon was a sacred food in ancient Egypt and the favorite fruit of Napoleon and Pope John Paul II.   The recipes below involve honeydew and would be certainly enjoyed by your dear ones and guests.

Recipe 1 - Chilled Honeydew Soup 

Ingredients (4 servings): 

• 1 honeydew melon, cut into pieces
• 1 cantaloupe melon, cut into pieces
• 8 strawberries
• 4 tbsp. vodka
• 4 tbsp. brown sugar
• 4 tbsp. of lemon juice

Put the honeydew melon into a blender and process until smooth. Pour the mixture into a bowl. Repeat the same process with the cantaloupe melon, but pour it in another bowl. Add 2 tbsp. vodka, 2 tbsp. sugar and 2 tsp. lime juice to each of the bowls and stir thoroughly. Cover and chill. Put the strawberries into the blender and process until smooth. Pour the mixture into a third bowl. Cover and leave to cool. 
To serve, pour half a cup of the cantaloupe mixture into each of the four individual bowls; then pour half a cup of the honeydew mixture in the center of the cantaloupe mix. Complete each serving with 2 tbsp. puréed strawberries.

Recipe 2 - Honeydew and Grape Cocktail

Ingredients (4 servings):

• 1 small honeydew melon, cut into ovals
• 8 oz black grape, cut in halves
• 2 tablespoons of mint sauce
• 1 teaspoon of castor sugar
• sprig of fresh mint to decorate

Place the honeydew melon into a bowl; remove the seeds from the grape halves and put them into the bowl. Add the mint sauce and the sugar; cover the bowl and chill for an hour. Serve the Honeydew and Grape Cocktail in glasses and decorate with mint. 

Recipe 3 - Honeydew Mixed Fruit Salad 

Ingredients (12 servings):  

• 1 small honeydew melon, cut into ovals
• 1/2 small cantaloupe melon, cut into ovals
• 1/2 small watermelon, cut into ovals
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 4 tbsp. of honey
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 4 tbsp. lime juice
• fresh mint leaves

Put honey and sugar into a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds; remove, stir and microwave the mixture for another 30 seconds. Remove and cool for 10 minutes. Then add the orange juice, lime juice and mint and stir well. Put the fruits ovals into a bowl and pour the honey-juice mixture. Toss carefully and cool for half an hour. 

Recipe 4 - Chicken with Honeydew Salsa 

Ingredients (4 servings): 

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 honeydew melon, cut into cubes
• 4 tbsp. olive/sunflower oil
• 8 tbsp. lime juice
• 4 tsp. Caribbean-style seasoning blend
• 2 red onions, sliced
• salt, pepper and coriander to taste

Mix Caribbean-style seasoning, oil and half of the lime juice in a bowl. Add the chicken breasts and toss to coat. Cool for 4 to 24 hours. Place the honeydew melon, coriander, onion and the remaining lime juice in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Cook the marinated chicken on a barbeque for about 10 minutes on each side, or under a grill for 20 minutes. While cooking, pour the leftover marinade over the chicken. To serve, spoon the melon salsa over the rice and top with the sliced chicken.