Summer Melon Salad with Lime Five Spice Honey
For local melons at their peak, less is more. The bright floral sweet notes of honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelon only need to be dressed up by a drizzle of lime, five spice, honey and mint.
Those halcyon days of summer have arrived! We’ve sloughed off our hard city veneer for swimsuits and sea-salted tresses; the grey hot pavement for sun-dappled verdant afternoons by the pool punctuated only by the gentle hum of the grill and the shimmery glint of cream-puff clouds above. And of course, what’s also arrived is the eagerly-awaited bounty that is summer produce—all so bright and juicy and still-warm from the sun. This trio of summer recipes takes the best of farmstand produce and marries them with Asian flavors to create effortlessly-made and nourishing platters of food perfect for setting down on the garden table. So, let’s raise a glass to these weeks we get to exhale a bit and savor what’s good and delicious.
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
1 ripe honeydew
1 ripe cantaloupe
1 ripe small seedless watermelon
¼ cup honey
¼ tsp five spice
1 lime, juiced
Mint leaves, for garnish
METHOD
In a small bowl add honey, five spice and lime juice and mix to combine.
Cut all melons in half, seed honeydew and cantaloupe, then use a melon baller to scoop out balls. Add melon balls to a shallow serving bowl, pour honey mixture atop and gently toss to combine. Garnish with mint leaves and serve.