By Emily Chan
When you think of a dynamic duo, you’d typically think of fries and ketchup, milk and cookies or chips and salsa; but seldom do we pay any mind to cantaloupe and honeydew.
When you look at a fruit platter or bowl, what do you see? You see strawberries, grapes, watermelon and occasionally mango. What you don’t see is the cubes of cantaloupe and honeydew filling in any of the blank spaces. What you don’t see is the large, awkwardly sized pieces of cantaloupe and honeydew lifting their flavorful friends up.
These melancholic melons sit at the bottoms of our fruit bowls and at the bottoms of our hearts, acting as simple stand-ins alongside flamboyant fan favorites. It seems like cantaloupe and honeydew will always be the supporting actors, always subordinate and never the star.
However, that changes today. How one lives one’s life is dictated by how one perceives the world. Your perception of cantaloupe and honeydew is no exception. Cantaloupe and honeydew aren’t bad fruits; however, the way they are served certainly is. The key to enjoying these demure fruits is to highlight their subtle sweetness, rather than capsizing and pulling them to the bottom of the fruit juice ocean.
One great way to enhance your cantaloupe eating experience is to pair it with some prosciutto. Due to the refined yet refreshing taste of the cantaloupe, the saltiness of the cured meat is balanced out. Furthermore, the simplicity of this fruit-to-food combination makes it a great appetizer for any summer get-together. This appetizer can be served any time of day, whether that’s at brunch or in addition to your dinner on a balmy summer night.
On the other hand, very few fruits are as versatile as honeydew. Not only can this melon be a super delicious snack when frozen and turned into popsicles or sorbet, it also tastes great in salads and soups! You really can’t go wrong with the endless possibilities honeydew gives you. Savory or sweet, honeydew can always be a treat!
Moreover, these fruits have serious health benefits! Cantaloupe is full of antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium while honeydew is filled with properties that assist with skin, eye and digestion health. Lastly, both are professionals at increasing your immune system and will guarantee you’ll stay hydrated throughout the day.
So, the next time you think about dissing cantaloupe and honeydew, just know that there’s more to them than you’ll ever know. It’s not every day you find a pair of fruits this multifaceted and magical!
