Make a Watermelon Basket Fruit Salad
Watermelon season is from about August to October in the Northern Hemisphere, but this sweet fruit can now be enjoyed year round thanks to modern shipping conveniences. This fruit salad basket can be used for many events, such as school meetings, church socials, and spring holiday parties. It is festive, adorable, and delicious.
Contents
Ingredients
- One large, perfectly ripe watermelon
- Half of a small cantaloupe
- Half of a small honeydew melon
- Two cups of red grapes
- Half a can of pineapple chunks (optional)
Steps
- Purchase a perfectly ripe watermelon. This is important because although you are using the shell for a "basket," the inside of the fruit will still be eaten. If the fruit inside of the watermelon is over-ripe, it may be difficult to work with. But, if the fruit is under-ripe, your salad will be bland and flavorless.
- If you have any doubts regarding the freshness of a fruit, ask the produce manager at your local supermarket about how to select for ripeness.
- Mark the top of the melon as shown.
- These lines will help guide you as you cut a handle into the watermelon.
- With a long, thin knife, cut out the top of the watermelon, leaving the center as a handle. Reserve the cut-off watermelon chunks.
- After cutting out the handle, make the handle appear wavy by slowly cutting out semicircles from the skin.
- Use the melon baller to scoop the flesh out. Put about half of the melon balls into one bowl. You will be filling the basket with them later.
- The other half of the melon can be stored or eaten right away—it won't be needed for the fruit salad.
- Use an ice cream scoop to scrape the inside walls of the watermelon clean.
- Open the other fruits and use the melon baller to remove the "meat" from inside them. Mix the cantaloupe and honeydew with the leftover half of the watermelon, adding the pineapple and grapes. Blend well.
- Serve cold and enjoy!
Tips
- Expecting a large crowd? Instead of eating the other half of the mixed fruits, serve them in a nice bowl after the first batch runs out.
- There are lots of things that can be done with watermelons. If you're brave, try your hand at actual watermelon carving!
Warnings
- Be careful with the knife. It is especially dangerous to use when cutting the handle of the basket.
Things You'll Need
- A thin-bladed knife
- A melon baller
- An ice cream scoop
- A marker
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