Honeydew Melon — season, tips, and recipes in Australia
Honeydew Melon is a fruit available in Queensland during January, February, March, peaking in February. This page is a practical guide for home cooks: when to buy honeydew melon, how to pick a good one, how to store it, what it goes well with, three original recipes, and detailed nutrition information.
Lighter and less sweet than rock melon, with pale green flesh. Refreshing in summer but can be bland if underripe. The smell test is essential.
How to pick a good one
Should feel heavy and smell faintly sweet at the stem end. Skin should have a waxy, slightly sticky feel when ripe. Avoid any with soft spots.
How to store it
Room temperature until ripe, then fridge. Cut melon keeps 3-5 days refrigerated.
Goes well with
prosciutto: Sweet, watery melon against salty, fatty prosciutto. Honeydew's milder sweetness makes this a more delicate version of the combination than rockmelon.
lime: Lime acid sharpens honeydew's sweetness, which can otherwise be bland. The combination is the basis of a better fruit salad.
mint: Mint's coolness and honeydew's refreshing quality amplify each other. Used in drinks and salads where the mild flavour needs a contrast.
ginger: Ginger's warmth contrasts with honeydew's cool, mild sweetness. Used in a sorbet or granita, the combination is more interesting than honeydew alone.
Recipes
Honeydew & Mint Agua Fresca
Mexican-style cooler.
Ingredients: half honeydew, handful mint, 1 lime (juice), 500ml water, honey to taste
Method: Blend melon, mint, lime, water. Strain if you want. Sweeten with honey. Serve over ice.
Honeydew & Prosciutto
The lighter version of the classic.
Ingredients: half honeydew, 8 slices prosciutto, black pepper, mint
Method: Slice melon into wedges. Drape prosciutto. Crack pepper, scatter mint.
Honeydew & Cucumber Salad
Spa-level refreshing.
Ingredients: half honeydew, 1 cucumber, 1 lime (juice), handful mint, pinch salt, pinch chilli flakes
Method: Cube melon and cucumber. Toss with lime, torn mint, salt, chilli.
Nutrition
One cup provides 50% of your daily vitamin C and 12% of your potassium. About 92% water, making it one of the most hydrating fruits. Only 64 calories per cup. Contains adenosine, a compound with blood-thinning properties. More vitamin C than you'd expect from something this mild-tasting.