Mad About Melon: 8 Juicy Recipes

Watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon are three refreshing reasons to savor fruit this summer. Try these 8 simple ways to use the delicious melon flavor in your kitchen tonight.

Pressed Watermelon With Basil Water

Quench your thirst and get a boost of vitamin C with this colorful summer sip. Basil adds a fresh, slightly fragrant flavor to the sweetness of the watermelon, and this recipe is best used to cool down hot-off-the-grill dishes.

Ingredients: Watermelon, basil, sea salt, white wine vinegar, chilled water

Calories: 46

Try this recipe: Pressed Watermelon With Basil Water

Enjoy this light Italian dish with a glass of crisp white wine. The mix of sweet, savory, and bitter flavors is perfect for a warm summer night. Plus you'll get nearly 20% of your fiber and plenty of heart-healthy fat.

Ingredients: Farfalle pasta, lemons, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, red pepper, garlic, olive oil, arugula, cantaloupe, shallots, mint leaves, prosciutto, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Calories: 357

Try this recipe: Prosciutto and Melon Pasta Salad

There's a reason to pair salty prosciutto with sweet melon. Not only do the flavors complement each other perfectly, but you also add a bit of filling protein to a guilt-free side dish.

Ingredients: Sharlyn melon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, prosciutto, basil, figs, arugula, olive oil, ricotta salata, red pepper

Calories: 212

Try this recipe: Summer Melon With Fig and Prosciutto

Whip up this vitamin C-packed salad for your next outdoor event. Watermelon and tomato provide a juicy, sweet base for the tangy feta and bitter onion. Serve with grilled fish or chicken.

Ingredients: Olive oil, fresh herbs, lemons, kosher salt, heirloom tomatoes, seedless red and yellow watermelon, red onion, feta cheese

Calories: 133 (approximate)

Try this recipe: Watermelon, Heirloom Tomato, and Feta Salad

For less than 100 calories, you can enjoy a refreshing dessert. Cantaloupe adds a natural sweetness to the sherbet plus a luscious peach color. This recipe calls for a calorie-free sweetener, but you can use regular sugar to suit your taste.

Ingredients: Cantaloupe, calorie-free sweetener, lemon juice, unflavored gelatin, cold water, vanilla fat-free yogurt

Calories: 93

Try this recipe: Cantaloupe Sherbet

Sweet watermelon and mango perfectly complement the earthy spices—oregano, chili powder, and cumin—used to marinate the juicy chicken breasts.

Ingredients: Fresh oregano, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic, chicken breasts, watermelon, mango, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño pepper, limes, sugar, salt

Calories: 304

Try this recipe: Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast With Watermelon-Jalapeno Salsa

A pitcher of slushy daiquiris is a great way to start the weekend. These vivid green drinks look as delicious as they taste. And melon makes a low-cal mixer, so you'll imbibe for less than 200 calories.

Ingredients: Honeydew melon, kiwifruit, ice, light rum, sugar, limes

Calories: 183

Try this recipe: Honeydew-Kiwi Daiquiris

Cool, refreshing watermelon soup is a recipe sure to beat the summer heat. A garnish of cucumber and mint adds to the chill factor. Plus this dish is a unique way to start any cookout.

Ingredients: Cucumber, mint, watermelon, sugar, dry white wine, limes, salt, Tabasco sauce

Calories: 240

Try this recipe: Chilled Watermelon Soup