Fruit Salad in a Cantaloupe Basket

Dreamer in Ontario's Note:

Fresh fruit served in a cantaloupe bowl makes a refreshing dessert for a casual dinner or barbeque.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 cantaloupe , halved (see step 1 & 2 if using shell for basket. If not using shell, seed melon now)
• ½ honeydew melon , seeded
• ¼ cup superfine sugar or ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon orange-flavored liqueur (optional)
• 1 ½ teaspoons lime zest
• 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries or 1 cup raspberries or 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup seedless black grapes or 1 cup red seedless grapes

Directions:

1. Using a non-toxic marker, draw a zigzag pattern on the cantaloupe.
2. Cut deeply into the melon along the pattern.
3. Separate the halves and seed.
4. Use a melon baller to scoop the flesh from the cantaloupe and honeydew into balls.
5. Set aside.
6. In a large glass or ceramic bowl, combine the sugar, lime juice, orange liqueur and lime peel.
7. Stir well until sugar is dissolved.
8. Add the melon balls, berries and grapes.
9. Toss gently to combine.
10. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to blend flavours, stirring a couple of times.
11. Spoon the fruit mixture into the hollowed out melon halves or into serving bowls.
12. Serve immediately.

Reviews

[KateL]

Simply wonderful. I used Grand Marnier, so my "dressing" was oh-so-mellow. I would have added some whole strawberries to garnish, but the red grapes also added quite a bit of red accent, so extra strawberries were unnecessary. I vote for the orange-flavored liqueur! Thanks for posting this recipe, Dreamer! Made for 1-2-3 Hit Wonders Tag.

[Sydney Mike]

I like the idea of the melon bowls, but didn't use them this time around! Also omitted the liqueur but did include a rounded teaspoon EACh of lemon, lime & orange! And, since I don't always like picking & choosing, I used a 1/2 cup EACH of strawberries, raspberries AND blueberries, as well as 3/4 cup of red grapes AND 1/2 cup of some very small, very tasty green grapes that were bought at a roadside stand here in the desert! This is REALLY AN OUTSTANDING SALAD, & a recipe that's worth keeping around! [Tagged, made & reviewed for a teammate in our vegan group in the Vegetarian/Vegan Recipe Swap]

[Kim127]

Wonderful fruit salad and so pretty. The lime flavor gave this a little zing which I appreciated. It was very easy to make the little cantalope basket. I subbed watermelon for the honeydew, which I just don't care for. I also used fresh blueberries and the red seedless grapes.