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Tuesday 22 January 2019

Melon : Different types, and recipe suggestions


You may have seen in various news outlets that in Australia roads have melted and doctors have warned people about heat stress as Australia notched five of its ten hottest days on record amid a searing heatwave. Friends in blogland living in Australia have also talked about it in their various blog posts. So it's partly with this in mind that I thought Melons! Yes melons - well they are so refreshing when it's hot, but actually I don't mind eating them when it's cooler either …

Melon - so many different types:

Cantaloupe 
The Cantaloupe melon is named after a small town near Rome, Cantalupa, and is appreciated everywhere for its exceptionally juicy, sweet, orange flesh. Like all melons, it can be used in sweet and savoury dishes, but its flavour is always enhanced by serving well chilled. It is available all year.
Uses: It is ideal in fruit salads, fish or poultry dishes and can be eaten on its own. 
To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days. 
To prepare: Halve and remove the pips and fibres. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh or slice and cut the flesh away from the skin. 

Charentais 
The small charentais melon is grown mainly in France and Spain and has a smooth pale green to cream skin. The very juicy flesh is deep orange in colour and it is one of the best dessert melons. They are available all year. 
Uses: Serve chilled on its own, or as part of a fruit salad. Serve chunks of melon with black olives with pre-dinner drinks, or wrap melon cubes in smoked salmon and serve on cocktail sticks. 
To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days. 
To prepare: Halve and remove the pips and fibres. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh or slice and cut the flesh away from the skin. 

Galia 
This variety of melon has a thick green skin and sweet yellow flesh, which is full of flavour. It is available all year. 
Uses: Serve on its own or in slices with a selection of cold meats. Add to fruit salads or purée the flesh and stir into orange juice for a delicious non alcoholic cocktail. 
To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days. 
To prepare: Halve and remove the pips and fibres. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh or slice and cut the flesh away from the skin. 

Honeydew 
An oval-shaped melon with yellow or green wrinkled skin, Its flesh may be pale green, yellow or pink, depending on type. It has a subtle, refreshing sweet flavour. It is available all year. 
Uses: Cut into slices and sprinkle with a little ground cinnamon or ginger for a simple starter or dessert. 
To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days. 
To prepare: Halve and remove the pips and fibres. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh or slice and cut the flesh away from the skin. 

Piel de Sapo 
A Spanish melon whose name means 'toad's skin' - a reference to its dark green roughly textured surface. Inside the pale yellow to green flesh has a distinctive, delicate sweet flavour. It is available all year. 
Uses: Delicious eaten Italian-style with thinly sliced prosciutto. Or serve with after-dinner cheese - it is especially good with salty feta or extra mature Cheddar. 
To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days. 
To prepare: Halve and remove the pips and fibres. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh or slice and cut the flesh away from the skin. 

Watermelon 
Quite different from the other types of melon available, water melons are usually quite large, with a dark green skin. The flesh is a bright pinky red colour and has a quite bland sweet flavour, it contains black seeds which provide a direct contrast in colour and texture to the flesh. Slices of water melon are especially popular in warm countries where they are served chilled as a refreshing alternative to a long, cool drink to help quench thirst. It is available all year. 
Uses: Serve chilled and sliced as part of a fresh fruit platter. 

To store: Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with clingfilm and used within 3 days. 
To prepare: Halve and cut into thick slices.

Some recipe suggestions

Sugar-Free Cantaloupe Agua Fresca (Vegan)
more details here


Melon and Parma Ham
more details here


Watermelon Salad in a tea-cup !
more details here


A Watermelon Pizza : Perfect For Warmer Summer Days
more details here


Of course there are many other delicious recipes that use melon too, and you may have your own favourite, why not share it in the comments section.

A variety of recipe ideas/articles are found within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

45 comments:

Tom said...

...I never knew that there aware so many different types.

ClaudiaMorningstar said...

I love melon. I often eat raw version!

Valerie-Jael said...

I love markings at snarky time of the year band in hot w they are great. Valerie

mxtodis123 said...

I love any kinds of melons. Summer fruit is the best.

Jeanie said...

Good morning! Thanks for coming over to Marmelade Gypsy and I hope you'll return!

Some excellent recipes here (that tomato one on the next post with goat cheese looks incredible!) Here in Michigan the melon you buy is a cantaloupe known as the Howell Melon because they are grown in a town called Howell and supposedly are the tastiest! I don't know about that -- we grow them elsewhere and I've never had a bad one in season. Alas, for us the season is far away!

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Oh...we haven't had mellon in a while...(walking to the grocery list)

Christine said...

I love melons, there are a couple types I don't recognize on your list.

DIMI said...

Hello Jan!
I love watermelon and i like to make fruit salad in Summer,and sometimes to serve it with prosciutto!
Thank you for sharing all those delicious recipes! Have a lovely Tuesday and a happy week ahead!
Dimi...

happyone said...

I sure do like melons.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Love the watermelon pizza Jan. We have been lucky in Perth, our summer so far has been pretty mild, we had two hot days over the weekend but back down to mid 20C this week. We have been eating a lot of salads and watermelon though ☺

Lorrie said...

In summer, when it's hot and I'm craving something cold and sweet, watermelon chunks hit the spot. I also like a watermelon salad with feta cheese and mint leaves - the salty and sweet are a great combination.

Out on the prairie said...

A favorite fruit for me. When my grandfather grew watermelons his neighbors teased him the best ones were on the roadside of the fence.

R's Rue said...

Looks good.

Mary Kirkland said...

I'm mildly allergic to melon but I eat it anyway. lol All except for Honeydew melon. That I get a worst reaction from.

Miss Val's Creations said...

Melons are perfect on a hot day. A few of these I have never heard of so if I ever see them in the grocery store here, I will have to buy them to try. My husband loves freezing chopped watermelon and eating it instead of a naughty frozen treat. I prefer it just chilled.

Maria Rodrigues said...

Hi Jan
I did not know there were so many types of melons.
Here at home we love it.
Thanks for the recipes.
Hugs
Maria
Divagar Sobre Tudo um Pouco

Elephant's Child said...

Thank you.
At the moment I am eating a LOT of fruit. Cooling and delicious.

mamasmercantile said...

We are great fans of melon and eat it all year around, although the summer it is used in a lot more of our food.

Barb said...

How interesting - I only knew the 3 common melons. My husband says I'm the melon whisperer because I'm pretty good at picking the ripe ones. I only buy them in summer when they're in season here.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love fruit! And it not only tastes good, it looks pretty!

NatureFootstep said...

melons is good :)

klahanie said...

Melons, in all their varieties, are some of my favourite fruit. Wonder if I can elope with a cantaloupe?

Gary

Diane said...

Wow who knew there were so many varieties. Thanks for the fabulous post Jan.

Hugs Diane

aussie aNNie said...

Delish post Jan, just loving these last lot of post. Apologies I don't always get over here to comment, I get 50-80 emails a day which all are related to design teams I am on, so I respond to each one...xx

Suzan said...

When it is very hot and it has been hot a lot here is Australia I make a watermelon and feta salad. The salty cheese contrasts with the melon nicely. I have also frozen watermelon an sheen given it a quick turn in the food processor to make a sushi type drink.

Martha said...

I like all of them but I LOVE watermelon :)

Anonymous said...

Those recipes look so delicious! I looked at the melons in the grocery store today but they were too pricey here in North Carolina.

sandy said...

The melon looks delicious - reminds me that I love melon on a summer day.

Sami said...

I like the look of the Agua Fresca and the Watermelon Pizza :) Thanks Jan

Margaret D said...

Love watermelon especially on a hot day - and yes, it's hot in many parts of Australia day after day.

Angie said...

Jan - I never met a melon I didn't enjoy! Your menu suggestions all appear tasty, but based on past experience I would particularly like the melon with parma ham. And that watermelon pizza is inspired. I think kids would love it! Have a great rest of the week!

baili said...

what a mouthwatering post dear Jan :)

i am in love with watermelon since i was little

since we live in hotter part of land so we have melons when it's available
luckily all kinds are produced here
thank you for delightful sharing

more blessings to you and family in new happy healthy year my friend!!!

Sussi said...

sounds and looks good!

Existe Sempre Um Lugar said...

Bom dia, perfeita sugestão saudável, obrigado, de todos conheço o melão Galia.
AG

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I think we use every kind of melon in every way possible! In Asia you can get a drink of watermelon juice, and it is absolutely delicious. Not bad with a little vidka added either!

Ygraine said...

Wow, I had no idea there were so many different types of melon!
I do love watermelon, and eat it often...but now I am dying to try some of the others you've mentioned.
These recipes look amazing, especially the melon pizza. That one I will definitely be making.
Thank you so much!😊😊

carol l mckenna said...

Love melons and great photos and recipes too ~ ^_^

Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Debbie said...

yum...prosciutto and honey dew melon are delicious together!!!!

Francisco Manuel Carrajola Oliveira said...

Desconhecia estas variedades de melão, aproveito para desejar a continuação de uma boa semana.

Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros

The Happy Whisk said...

Fun collection of melons!

Snowbird said...

You have me craving melon!xxx

William Kendall said...

I've only had watermelon and canteloupe, and I admit, I'm not fond of either.

Caroline Gill said...

I just love the watermelon pizza! Those melons look mouth-watering. Thank you to Jan for your kind comment.

Magic Love Crow said...

Excellent post Jan! Thank you! Big Hugs!

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