Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad with Mint and Basil Vinaigrette

Recipe courtesy Giada DeLaurentiis, 2007

Show: Food Network SpecialsEpisode: All-Star Grillfest: South Beach

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (17)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(17)

Prep Time:
30 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 to 6 servings

Times:

Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: --
Total:: 30 min

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Ingredients

1/2 watermelon
1 cantaloupe, cut in half, seeded
2 tablespoons freshly chopped mint leaves plus whole sprigs, for garnish
2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves plus whole sprigs, for garnish
1 lemon juiced (1/4 cup)
1/4 cup simple syrup (equal amounts sugar and water heated until sugar dissolves, cool)
1/8 teaspoon amaretto

Directions

Scoop 2 cups each from the watermelon and the cantaloupe using a melon baller. Carve the remainder of the watermelon out and reserve shell.

Add to a blender the chopped mint, chopped basil, lemon juice, simple syrup and amaretto. Blend until smooth.

Add the watermelon and cantaloupe balls to the carved out watermelon half.

Add the vinaigrette to the balls and toss to combine.

Garnish with the mint and basil sprigs and taste.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad with Mint and Basil Vinaigrette
null null, null 07-24-2009
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anybody tried this with lackluster melon?
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I'm looking for a way to salvage some perfectly-adequate but not really summer-delicious melon from the Farmer's Market.Do... fans of this recipe think it would be tasty even if the fruit wasn't at its peak? (I haven't tried it. but 0 stars seemed really unfair, so I just went with the average)Read more
recipe Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad with Mint and Basil Vinaigrette
ROBIN Cary, NC 07-17-2009
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Fabulous! Everyone in the office loved it!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Just served this at an office birthday party and it was a HIT. Will def. do again.
recipe Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad with Mint and Basil Vinaigrette
cheryl houston, TX 07-16-2009
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WOW!! WHAT A SURPRISE
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I can't beleive how wonderful this was. I wasn't sure about the basil so I added just half of it. I loved the salad. I... couldn't stop eating it. The next time I made it (few days later) I made it as it was written.....little to much basil for me. So just try it different ways and to your liking. I will always make this. Great for summer.Read more
recipe Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad with Mint and Basil Vinaigrette
Rebecca Eau Claire, WI 07-01-2009
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Loved this as a SALAD but was even better as SORBETTO
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Giada, I am a chocolatier in Wisconsin and own my own business. In the summer we make Gelato and Sorbettos. When I saw this... recipe I immediately thought Gelato! It made the MOST fantastic Sorbetto! It is FLYING out of my shop. How refreshing! is the comment I hear the most. Thank you for the idea. I am going to make it into a gelato next by adding milk. www.obsessionchocolates.com. I have made many other recipes into chocolates too. Read more
recipe Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad with Mint and Basil Vinaigrette
Beverly Cleveland, OH 06-30-2009
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Loved It!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The dressing on this salad was wonderfully light and refreshing, I particularly liked the mint. It added a nice surprise, I... will definitely make this again!Read more
recipe Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad with Mint and Basil Vinaigrette
Pamela Marana, AZ 07-31-2008
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Simply Devine
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

We made this Salad last weekend for guest. I did some prep the night before by doing the melon balls and putting them in a... tuperware overnight. Made the vinagrette prep in the morning and through it together when ready to serve. Everyone made comments about it. I would have been leary with the different herbs used but the taste was the most wonderous surprise. Everyone wanted the recipe to make again. Ta Da!!!! Big Success and so easy.Read more