So many ways to use melon balls, so little time! Let me show you some tasty, pretty Melon Balls Recipes for an appetizer, a refreshing drink and a snack or breakfast.
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Why You’ll Love These Recipes
Don’t you love the time of year when the melons are ripe and ready to enjoy? There are so many things you can do with them, and besides being beautiful to look at, they elevate almost anything you serve them with.
Here’s some good reasons to make these healthy recipes with fresh melons:
- They are abundant in warm weather and easy to find at the grocery store and your local farmers market.
- Get yourself a melon ball scooper at the grocery store or online…the best way to make perfectly shaped balls.
- Melons are wonderful for breakfast, lunch, snacks and more.
Ingredients You’ll Need for Melon Ball Skewers
For instructions and ingredients for all three recipes, please scroll to the recipe card below.
- Honeydew melon: Honeydew melon balls are my favorite for these skewers, but use any white honeydew melon or even cantaloupe if you’d like.
- Pesto: Store bought to serve with the skewers.
- Black Forest Ham: Sliced thinly.
- Mozzarella Balls: Perfect for this kind of snacking.
- Fresh Basil: Adds a lot of flavor and visual appeal, use a spring of mint instead if you’d like.
Step-By Step Instructions
- Start by cutting your melon in half and scooping out the seeds.
- Next, scoop the melon balls by placing the open side of the scoop flat against the sliced side of the melon, then press it down gently (some juice will come out of the little hole in the scoop), then gently turn to create a ball.
3. Next, take a skewer and thread one melon ball on first, then fold a basil leaf in half and thread it, pushing it to the top under the melon ball.
4. Gather a little ham and add it too, then a mozzarella ball, then another basil leaf.
5. Transfer the skewers to a platter with a small bowl of pesto on the side for serving.
Melon Ball Salad
Here’s a simple little melon ball recipe that makes for a healthy breakfast or snack. This is an easy recipe idea, and you just need a few simple ingredients too!
Ingredients You’ll Need
For full list of ingredients and instructions for all three recipes, please scroll to the recipe card below!
- Assorted melons: About 6 cups of any varieties you’d like.
- Fresh Mint: Sprigs of mint add wonderful flavor to this “salad”.
- Honey: Just a tiny bit sweetens up any melons that may be bland.
- Lime: A squeeze of fresh lime juice really wakes up the flavors.
- Cut a melon in half and scoop out the flesh.
- Use the small or large side of the melon ball scooper, and lay the open round side flat on top of the melon flesh.
- Press straight down on the melon, then gently twist it to get a round ball shape.
3. Scoop enough sweet melon balls for six cups, add to a large bowl.
4. Add a pinch of salt, a squeeze of fresh lime juice and a teaspoon of honey. Toss with some chopped mint and serve!
- This melon ball salad would be great with a Zucchini Potato Frittata or with these strawberry pancakes.
- Serve these in a martini glass or other tall glass for variation, with fresh mint leaves over the side. An easy idea and the perfect way to serve them on a brunch table!
Mint Cooler
This fresh melon balls Mint Cooler recipe is super refreshing, and while it doesn’t contain melon liqueur or need a cocktail shaker, it looks and tastes wonderful. This mocktail might be one of your new favorite cocktails!
- Use sparkling, plain, lemon or lime water.
- Upgrade this to cocktail hour by adding your favorite spirits like vodka.
- Add a fluid ounce of melon schnapps with a shot of vodka and add an orange slice for a fruity vodka shooter.
- A little melon ball skewer on each drink makes them look special, easy too.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- You guessed it, melon balls! Use any variety you’d like, or mix up a few different varieties.
- Use a melon ball scoop to make perfect, round balls. Put the scoop straight down on the cut side of the melon, push it down until the little hole squeezes out juice, gently twist to get a round ball. Easy!
- Place melon balls on a skewer (I used three) with a sprig or two of fresh mint to garnish these coolers.
Expert Tips
- Use regular, lemon or lime sparkling water for the Mint Coolers.
- Use an assortment of different melons for these recipes, or just one or two.
- All three recipe ideas are easy to scale up or down.
Serving Ideas
- Serve the Melon Ball Skewers with cocktails and some sweet and spicy almonds.
- Make the Melon Ball Salad as a light dessert one night, or with other great brunch recipes served in a large bowl instead of individual cups.
- Serve the Mint Coolers on a tray with ice and shots of your favorite booze like vodka, rum, tequila. Be sure to add this fantastic hot artichoke dip to the mix!
- Here’s a great list of my favorite summer recipes all in one place too.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best tip is to ask your farmer’s market or grocery store. They’ll usually know what is sweet and ripe and ready to eat, and often have samples.
No! Just use one type of melon if you’d like, any variety will be good.
More Recipes to Try
- Cantaloupe and Ice Cream: With a homemade caramel drizzle.
- Cherry Almond Oatmeal: A fresh & tasty way to start the day.
- Peach Cobbler with Pie Crust: A wonderful, homey dessert.
- Peach Green Tea Lemonade: Cold and delish.
- Pineapple Slushie: A wonderful refresher.
- Teriyaki Chicken Skewers: Juicy and full of flavor.
- Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds: An all-time favorite.
- Spicy Roasted Sweet Potatoes: Drizzled with lime yogurt sauce.
- Rhubarb Crisp without Oats: Warm and delish with vanilla ice cream.
- Costco Stuffed Salmon Recipe: A fabulous stuffed salmon recipe.
If you’ve tried these Melon Balls Recipes, or any other recipe on Studio Delicious, please rate the recipe 5 stars and tell me how you liked it in comments below!
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Melon Balls Recipes
Ingredients
- FOR THE MELON BALL SALAD
- 6 cups Assorted types of melon balls, watermelon cantaloupe, honeydew, casaba
- 5 large Fresh Mint Leaves
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Honey, or more to taste
- FOR THE MELON BALL SKEWERS
- 1 medium Honeydew Melon
- 8 ounces Mozzarella Balls in brine You'll use about half of the container
- 16 leaves Fresh Basil
- 8 slices Black Forest Ham
- ¼ cup Pesto, store bought
- 8 4 inch skewers
- FOR THE MINT COOLER
- 4 wooden skewers, 4 inch
- 4 cups Melon Balls assorted or one variety
- 8 Fresh Mint Leaves
- 4 cups Ice
- 1 Fresh Lime, cut in small wedges
- 2 bottles Sparkling Water Lemon flavored sparkling water is okay
Instructions
- FOR MELON BALL SALAD – 4 servings Use an assortment of melons if you'd like to make 6 cups of melon balls. Add them to a large bowl, and toss with one of the fresh mint leaves that's been finely chopped. Reserve the rest for garnish. Add the pinch of salt and honey, toss gently and transfer to serving bowls and garnish with fresh mint leaves.
- FOR MELON BALL SKEWERS – 4 servings (2 skewers per serving) Scoop 8 melon balls from the honeydew and set them aside in a small bowl. Let 8 of the mozzarella balls drain on a paper towel to absorb any excess brine from the container. Start by adding a melon ball to a skewer, followed by a basil leave, folded in half if needed, then a piece of Black Forest Ham, folded, then a mozzarella ball, and finally one more fresh basil leave. Serve with fresh pesto on the side.
- FOR THE MINT COOLER – 4 servings Make four melon skewers, each with three melon balls and one fresh mint leaf. Set aside, these are garnish for the coolers. Using four tall glasses, alternate adding ice and the remaining melon balls to the glass, about ¾ of the way full. Squeeze a little lime juice in each glass, then fill the glasses with regular or lemon or lime sparkling water. Garnish with a melon skewer and another fresh mint leaf and serve.
Notes
- Use regular sparkling water or lemon or lime flavored for the Mint Coolers.
- Use an assortment of different melons for these recipes, or just one or two.
- All recipe ideas here are easy to scale up or down
- Be sure to blot the mozzarella balls
- Please note nutrition calculations are approximate and calculated based on a total of 12 servings.
Nutrition
- Super important to read the whole recipe before you begin
- Pay attention to the ingredient list and photos for the recipe
- If possible, prep your ingredients a little before you start
- Always use a sharp knife for safety
- Use the size of pan called for in the recipe
- For savory recipes, taste and season as you go
- Buy fresh, organic ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible
Please rate this recipe and thanks for leaving a comment!