Cucumber Mint Melon Punch Recipes

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.

WATERMELON-CUCUMBER COOLER

Steps:

• Set a large fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl or pitcher. In a food processor or blender, puree watermelon. Pour watermelon puree through sieve, pressing on solids with a rubber spatula (you should have about 2 cups juice). Puree English cucumber and pour through sieve into watermelon juice.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir together lime juice and honey. Add to watermelon and cucumber juices, along with vodka. Adjust sweetness with more honey if desired. To serve, fill four glasses with ice and top each with cocktail. Garnish with cucumber slices.

CUCUMBER PUNCH

Steps:

• With a zester or fork, score cucumbers lengthwise; cut widthwise into thin slices. In a large pitcher, combine water and lemonade concentrate; add cucumbers. Cover and refrigerate overnight., Just before serving, transfer cucumber mixture to a punch bowl; stir in ginger ale and grapefruit soda.

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.

WATERMELON-LIME-MINT COOLER

Steps:

• In a small heatproof bowl, pour 1/2 cup boiling water over sugar and mint; stir until sugar has dissolved. Let cool completely, about 20 minutes. Strain syrup into a blender; discard mint.
• Add watermelon, lime juice, and 1 3/4 cups cold water; blend until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
• Serve over ice, garnished with a mint sprig, or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days. If using tequila, stir a shot (1-ounce) into each glass before serving.