Cucumber Mint Melon Punch Recipes

CUCUMBER, MINT & MELON PUNCH

Steps:

• Put the cucumber and half the mint in a large bowl or jug, and pour over the vodka. Cover and leave to steep for at least 24 hrs or for up to 1 week in the fridge, stirring every few days. Strain through a fine sieve.
• Pour the vodka, lime juice and sugar into a larger jug. Stir well.
• Using a melon baller, scoop out as many melon balls as you can. Add them to the jug and leave to steep for 30 mins-1 hr in the fridge. Top up with sparkling water and add the remaining mint leaves just before serving with extra lime wedges.

MELON, CUCUMBER AND MINT SALAD

Steps:

• Place the melons on a flat surface and split each one in half. Scoop out and discard the seeds. Slice the ends off, then slice off the skin with a knife. Cut the flesh into 1- to 2-inch chunks. Transfer 1 heaping cup of melon chunks to a blender. Refrigerate the remaining melon chunks in a large bowl until chilled.
• Make the dressing: Add 3 tablespoons olive oil, the lime zest and juice and the honey to the blender. Puree until smooth. Taste for seasoning; add more honey, if needed. Add a splash of water if needed to make a smooth dressing. Refrigerate the dressing until ready to serve.
• In a medium bowl, toss the cucumbers with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and a generous amount of pepper. Toss the chilled melon chunks with the dressing. Add the cucumbers, sprinkle the mint on top and mix a little.

CHILLED MELON, CUCUMBER AND MINT SALAD

Steps:

• Place the melons on a flat surface and split each one in half. Scoop out and discard the seeds. Use the larger-size scoop on a melon baller to scoop out the flesh. The goal is to tightly pack about 6 generous cups of melon flesh and then hollow the four melon halves out for presentation. Scrape the halves with a spoon to smooth the insides and gather additional flesh (and trap any juices) in a separate bowl until you have 1 heaping cup. Save the melon halves. Refrigerate the melon balls.
• Place the melon scraps and juices in a blender and add 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, the lime zest and juice and honey. Puree until smooth and taste for seasoning. Add more honey, if needed. Add a splash of water if more liquid is needed to make a smooth puree. Refrigerate.
• In a medium bowl, toss the cucumbers with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and a generous amount of black pepper. Toss the melon balls with the dressing. Sprinkle the cucumbers and mint over the melon and mix a little. Fill the melon halves.