Musk melon is a popular summer fruit. Commonly known as Kharbuja, its origin is traced to erstwhile Persia, now called Iran. A seasonal fruit believed to have come to India through travellers, it is now widely grown in India.
It is pulpy, juicy and has a light aroma. An excellent source of fibre, vitamin A and vitamin C, it is also an ideal choice for those looking for a low-calorie fruit. Here are a few simple yet mouth-watering musk melon recipes:
Musk melon juice
Ingredients: 1 medium-sized musk melon, sugar or jaggery (optional)
Preparation: Wash the fruit, cut into long slices, peel the skin and remove the seeds. Then chop the slices into small pieces. Grind the same along with sugar or crushed jaggery. Add water for required dilution. Serve immediately with or without ice cubes, however you like it better.
Musk melon rasayana
Ingredients: 1 bowl of chopped musk melon, some jaggery, 3 cups coconut milk, 3-4 cardamoms, a pinch of salt
Preparation: Wash the fruit, cut into long slices, peel the skin and remove the seeds. Then chop the slices into tiny pieces. Crush jaggery and mix it well with the chopped musk melon. Add a pinch of salt too and mix it well. Keep the mixture aside for 15 minutes before blending it finely. Add coconut milk and stir well. Then mix crushed cardamom. Delicious and nutritious musk melon rasayana is ready. Serve immediately as it is or with ice cubes.
Preparation of coconut milk: Grate half a coconut, add 2 cups of water, and grind well. Put a clean, thin white cotton cloth over a vessel. Pour the coconut paste over the cloth to filter. Squeeze the cloth and collect the coconut milk. Take another cup of water in a bowl, dip the dry lump along with the cloth several times in water and squeeze out the milk completely.
Musk melon milk shake
Ingredients: 1 cup of chopped musk melon, 1 cup milk, honey/ jaggery for taste, a pinch of finely powdered cardamom
Preparation: Add musk melon, milk, jaggery and grind well in mixer grinder. Sprinkle a pinch of cardamom if required. Serve in a glass as it is or topped with ice cubes.
Musk melon & dry fruits salad
Ingredients: 1 bowl of chopped musk melon, ¼ cup honey, a quarter bowl of dry fruits (raisins, cashew, soaked almonds), and a pinch of finely powdered cardamom
Preparation: Mix honey with chopped musk melon. Allow the mixture to blend for about 15 minutes. Then add dry fruits and mix well. Sprinkle finely-powdered cardamom and then again pour 2 teaspoons of honey on the top. Serve immediately.