Cantaloupe Pickles Recipes

WATERMELON PICKLES

Steps:

• Stir canning salt into 1 gallon water in a large container until dissolved; add watermelon rind. Cover the container with plastic wrap or a lid and let sit 12 hours. Drain and rinse completely.
• Combine drained watermelon rind and 1 gallon water in a stock pot. Bring the water to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the rind is tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour; drain and set aside.
• Put cinnamon sticks, allspice, and cloves in cheesecloth or spice bag. Combine vinegar, sugar, spice bag, maraschino cherries, and lemon slices in the stock pot; stir until sugar is dissolved. Add watermelon rind to the pot; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the rind is transparent, about 5-10 minutes. Remove the spice bag and set aside.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Put one whole clove into each jar. Break cinnamon sticks into pieces and put 1 piece into each jar.
• Pack the watermelon rind with the vinegar mixture into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

GINGERED CANTALOUPE PICKLES

Steps:

• Arrange the cantaloupe chunks in a large nonreactive shallow bowl. Cover the surgaces of the fruit completely with ice cubes. Over the ice, sprinkle a thin layer of salt, enough to cover it with the coarse granules. Set the bowl aside at room temperatuer while the ice begins to melt.
• When about half of the ice has melted and the remaining ice looks very brittle and crackled, like a shattered windshield, rinse and drain the cantaloupe. (The melting time will vary depending on the heat of the kitchen. Give it about 45 minutes to an hour.).
• Return the fruit to the bowl and add the sugar, vinegar and ginger. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Weight the fruit with a plate, cover the bowl with a clean tea towel, and let it stand for at least 12 hours or overnight.
• Pour the cantaloupe, syrup, and 1/2 cup of water inot a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is reduced by half and the cantaloupe becomes transparent, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, wash eight half-pint canning jars that are free of any cracks or knicks and place them in a water-bath canner. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Do this about 25 minutes before the cantaloupe is done simmering. Place a tea kettle or two full of water on the stove and heat to boiling. Just before you are ready to put the cantaloupe in the jars, pour boiling water from the tea kettle over 8 canning lids to sanitize them and soften the rubber seals.
• Now ladle the cantaloupe into the prepared jars. Divide the ginger and cinnamon sticks among the jars. Pour syrup to cover the cantaloupe to within 1/2 inch of the rim of the jar (head space). Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the jar and remove any air bubbles that might have accumulated. Clean the jar rims with clean, damp paper towels to remove any syrup or food that would prevent a proper seal. Center canning lids on jars and screw on bands with your finger tips--do not make them too tight!
• Place the jars in the canner full of hot water, and make sure the jars are covered by at least 1 1/2 inches of water. You might need to top off the water with some from the heated tea kettles.
• Process the jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes, counting from the time that the water returns to a boil.
• Store the jars in a cool, dark, dry place for several weeks before opening to improve the flavor. Refrigerate after opening.

NO-SUGAR ADDED CANTALOUPE PICKLES

Steps:

• Day One:.
• 1. Wash cantaloupe and cut into halves; remove seeds. Cut into 1 inch slices and peel. Cut strips of flesh into 1 inch cubes. Weigh out 6 pounds of pieces and place in large glass bowl.
• 2. Place red pepper flakes, cinnamon sticks, cloves and ginger in a spice bag and tie the ends firmly. Combine vinegar and water in a 4-quart stockpot. Bring to a boil, then turn heat off. Add spice bag to the vinegar-water mixture, and let steep for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 3. Pour hot vinegar solution and spice bag over melon pieces in the bowl. Cover with a food-grade plastic lid or wrap and let stand overnight in the refrigerator (about 18 hours).
• Day Two.
• 4. Wash and rinse pint canning jars; keep hot until ready to use. Prepare lids according to manufacturer's directions.
• 5. Carefully pour off vinegar solution into a large 8 to 10 quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Add Splenda; stir to dissolve. Add cantaloupe and bring back to a boil. Lower heat to simmer until cantaloupe pieces turn translucent; about 1 to 1-1/4 hours.
• 6. Remove cantaloupe pieces into a medium-sized stockpot, cover and set aside. Bring remaining liquid to a boil and boil an additional 5 minutes. Return cantaloupe to the liquid syrup, and bring back to a boil.
• 7. With a slotted spoon, fill hot cantaloupe pieces into clean, hot pint jars, leaving 1- inch headspace. Cover with boiling hot syrup, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel; apply two-piece metal canning lids.
• 8. Process in a boiling water canner. Pint jars 15 minutes (for elevations 0-1,000 feet) or 20 minutes (for elevations 1,001-6,000 feet). Let cool, undisturbed, 12-24 hours and check for seals.

CANTALOUPE PICKLES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir the lime into 3 cups water. Add the melon balls and let the bowl stand at room temperature for 4 - 5 hours.
• Drain the melon balls, rinse them well, and cover them with fresh water. Let the bowl stand for 1 hour, then drain them again. Give the melon two more hour long soaks in fresh water. Drain melon well.
• In a nonreactive pot, combine the vinegar, 1 cup water, sugar and dry spices and ginger tied in cheesecloth. Bring the syrup to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar and add the melon balls. Bring the syrup to a boil again, reduce the heat, and cover the pot. Simmer the melon about 1 hour until the balls are translucent around the edges.
• With a slotted spoon, divide the melon balls between two pint mason jars. Boil the syrup until it thickens a little and remove the spice bag. Pour the hot syrup over the melon balls, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Close the jars and process for 10 minutes in boiling water bath.
• Store in a cool dark place.