This Melon Ball Drink recipe is incredibly simple, easy to prepare, and thirst quenching. These melons are so naturally sweet that no sugar, honey, or agave is required.
Summer is the ideal season to indulge in Melon Ball Drink, as you’ll discover various juicy, sweet melons varieties readily available in the supermarket. Grab it while it's in season and at its peak freshness.
What is a melon ball drink
Melon Ball Drink is a refreshing beverage concocted with golden kiss melon (cantaloupe), golden honeydew, watermelon and mint. It serves as both a drink and a dessert, featuring cubes and balls of delightful melon.
These melons are delicious by themselves, but blending them with mint creates an even more refreshing drink. This combination achieves a perfect balance of sweetness with a subtle minty flavor.
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Ingredients and helpful tips
The best melons are firm but not too hard nor too soft. Avoid getting an overripe one. If it's not yet ripe, leave it at room temperature and check daily.
Once cut, place it in the fridge to slow down the ripening process.
CANTALOUPE – My favorite is the Golden Kiss Melon, also known as Sugar Kiss Melon. It is hybrid of the French Charentais melon and the North American cantaloupe. If this variety is not available, you can use any other type.
This delicious melon is firm, juicy, and known to be one of the varieties. It is sweeter than a regular cantaloupe. The exterior features a netted rind with green lining, and inside, you'll find soft, juicy, bright orange flesh.
This full-flavored melon blends perfectly into this melon drink.
Tip: When gently pressed, it should give slightly. Typically, when it's ripe, you can smell the sweet aroma coming from the fruit.
HONEYDEW – My favorite is the Golden Honeydew, but you can use other varieties as well.
It has a bright golden skin that is firm, thin, and smooth when ripe. Cutting into this melon releases its sweet aroma into the air. Its velvety flesh ranges from slightly pale green to almost white and is juicy, succulent, and very sweet.
Blending together the Golden Kiss Melon and the Golden Honeydew with a hint of mint creates a perfect summer drink.
Tip: Similar to cantaloupe, honeydew emits a sweet fragrance when ripe, so be sure to smell it. Avoid purchasing if it feels soft and overripe.
MINI WATERMELON – You can also use the larger variety, but for two people, a mini watermelon is perfect.
Seedless mini watermelons are crisp, sweet, and juicy with deep red to pink flesh. Cold watermelon is delicious on its own or mixed into a drink with other sweet melons.
Watermelon juice pairs well with the Golden Kiss Melon and Golden Honeydew, making a perfect beverage or salad.
Tip: My parents tap the watermelon to check for ripeness. It took me forever to master this technique. Some say to pick the one with a hollow sound, but we usually choose the one with a bouncy sound and let it sit for a day or two at room temperature.
MINT – Fresh mint is a perfect addition to this melon ball drink. It adds a cool aftertaste to any drink, juice or salad. It is sweet and aromatic and used in many dishes as well.
Blending fresh mint leaves with these melons is so refreshing. It doesn’t alter the taste of these delicious, sweet melons instead it makes the melons flavor pop up.
Step by step to make this drink
Select melons that are firm with no bruises or cracks, neither too hard nor too soft.
Cut them in half, reserving the other half of each melon to be juiced.
Don’t discard the seeds and pulp of cantaloupe and honeydew. Remove them from the fruit, place both in a strainer with a bowl underneath to catch the juices. Use a spoon to press against the strainer to extract as much juice. Don’t let this juicy goodness go to waste. There’s so much flavor in it.
Take the halves of each melon and either use a melon baller or cut them with a knife. I enjoy the texture of combining round and cube melons in my drink.
If you opt for a melon baller, scoop out the remaining flesh from the cantaloupe and honeydew and place it in the blender. Cut the reserved melons and add them to the blender as well, excluding the watermelon.
Blend the mixture with mint leaves, transfer it to a pitcher, and chill.
I prefer to juice the cantaloupe and honeydew together and the watermelon separately.
Do the same with the watermelon and chill.
You can use any glass you have or any small dessert bowls. If desired, you can also rim the glass with sugar or salt. I only do it for presentation. This juice is so sweet that neither sugar nor salt is necessary.
If you choose to rim the glass, take a cube of watermelon and run it around the edge of the glass, then dip it in a bowl of sugar or salt.
People have a choice of cantaloupe/honeydew or watermelon juice. Pour the juice into the glass, add cubed and melon balls, and garnish with mint leaves.
Alternatively, divide the fruits into halves and place into two bowls. Then pour the cantaloupe/honeydew into one bowl then the watermelon into the other. Garnish both bowls with mint leaves. Make sure to chill this drink before serving.
Note: I also chilled the glasses in the freezer before making the drink, if desired.
Leftover are good for up to 2 days in a covered container in the fridge. You can also cover the glasses with plastic wrap.
What can i use instead of a melon baller
Use a knife instead and cut melons into cubes.
Recipe
Melon Ball Drink
Ingredients
- 1 Golden Kiss Melon or cantaloupe
- 1 Golden Honeydew
- 1 Mini Watermelon
- 24 mint leaves
- mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Wash and dry all the melons before slicing.
- Cut all the melons in half. Scoop out the seeds and pulp of the Golden Kiss Melon (cantaloupe) and the Honeydew, and place them on a strainer with a bowl underneath to catch all the juice. Press the pulp and seeds with a spoon or spatula to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the seeds and pulp and set aside the juice.
- Use half of each melon to make melon balls using a melon baller and cut in cubes using a knife. Reserve the other half of each melon for the drink.
- Make a few melon balls and cubes from each melon and set them aside in the fridge. Scrape the remaining flesh from the cantaloupe and honeydew and place it in the blender.
- Remove the flesh from the reserved cantaloupe and honeydew and add it to the blender along with 12 mint leaves. Use the smoothie program or blend until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a pitcher or any container and place it in the fridge. Repeat the same process with the watermelon.
- There are two ways to serve, whichever is easier for you.
- Divide the melons balls and cubes into two bowls. Pour the cantaloupe and honeydew juice into one bowl and the watermelon juice in the other bowl, then garnish with mint leaves.
- Alternatively, serve in a glass or a small dessert bowl. Pour the cantaloupe/honeydew juice and add some melon balls and cubes, garnishing with mint leaves. Do the same with the watermelon.
Notes
- I suggest using the Golden Kiss Melon and the Golden Honeydew as they blend so well together and are very tasty.
- If you don't have a melon baller, use a knife to cut instead.
- You can add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of lime juice to the blended drink. You can also top it with crumbled feta cheese. These are optional. The drink is delicious with just melon and mint.
- Make this ahead of time so juices meld together. It is best chilled before serving. If serving for dinner, prepare it at lunchtime and place it in the fridge.
- You can rim the glass with sugar or salt, if desired, though it's not necessary due to the drink's sweetness. If you'd like to rim the glass, wet the edge of the glass with a cube of watermelon and dip it in sugar or salt.
- Leftover is good for up to 2 days in a covered container in the fridge.
- Fore more tips, refer to the post above.
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