Best Melon With Mint Lime Syrup And Jalapeno Adapted From Food And Wine Magazine Recipes

WATERMELON AND CANTALOUPE WEDGES WITH LIME-MINT SYRUP

Steps:

• In small bowl, whisk together sugar and 1/4 cup hot water until sugar is dissolved. Stir in lime juice and zest. Cover and refrigerate until cool, about 1 1/2 hours. (Syrup can be made ahead and chilled, covered, up to 3 days.)
• In 1 very large or 2 medium plastic containers, combine melon wedges. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 1/2 hours. (Melons can be sliced and chilled up to 12 hours ahead.)
• As close to serving time as possible, stir mint into syrup and drizzle over melon wedges. Serve chilled.

PORT WINE DRUNKEN MELON WITH SPANISH CHEESES

Steps:

• Pour the port into the melon 1 to 3 days in advance of the dinner. Chill in the refrigerator with the top put back in place and wrapped in plastic wrap.
• When ready to serve:
• Remove the melon from the refrigerator and take off the wrap and top. Pour out the port from the melon into a bowl. Cut off the rind and cut the melon into pieces. Put the pieces into four cool bowls. Serve with the cheeses on a side platter.
• Note: The port could be poured back over the melon or reserved for another use.
• This is also nice with a bowl of lightly seasoned toasted almonds and some port wine.

MELON CARPACCIO WITH LIME

Steps:

• Bring sugar and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add mint sprigs and chile. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Remove syrup from heat; cover and let steep for 15 minutes for flavors to infuse.
• Strain syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl; stir in lime juice. DO AHEAD: Syrup can be made 1 week ahead. Keep chilled.
• Arrange melon slices in a 13x9x2" glass baking dish. Pour syrup over melon in baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.
• Divide melon slices among plates, overlapping them decoratively. Pour remaining syrup in dish into a small pitcher. DO AHEAD: Melon carpaccio can be made up to 5 hours ahead. Cover and chill melon and remaining syrup separately.
• Drizzle some of syrup over melon. Place a scoop of sorbet in center of each plate, if using; garnish with mint leaves and lime zest.

WATERMELON SALAD WITH JALAPENO AND LIME

Steps:

• Whisk together lime juice, oil and lime zest. Set aside.
• Place frozen watermelon cubes in single layer in large shallow dish. Pour lime juice mixture over watermelon, and gently toss to combine. Cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Place 5 jalapeño rings each in 4 shallow serving bowls. Mound 1/2 cup watermelon in center of each bowl. Divide marinade among bowls. Sprinkle with basil, sesame seeds and salt, and serve.

WATERMELON, MINT AND JALAPENO SALSA

Steps:

• Combine the olive oil and lime juice in a bowl. Add the watermelon, mint and jalapenos and toss with the lime juice and olive oil mixture. Season with salt and eat with your favorite chips.