Event: Sunday Funday
Theme: Basil
Recipe: Honeydew Caprese Salad
Honeydew Caprese Salad is a different and fresh twist to the classic caprese. With crunch from the cucumber, sweetness from the honeydew melon, slight tang from the tomatoes and ohhh the taste of fresh mozzarella makes this salad a perfect summer indulgence.
What Is Caprese?
Simply put it is an Italian Salad with fresh summery ingredients, tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil and fresh mozzarella. Add a bit of salt and pepper, and you have a refreshing filling summery salad ready in a jiffy.
Variations Of Caprese
These days one can easily find variations of Caprese Salad. When possible I make a mixed melon caprese using watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe. It is the best way to enjoy melons during the summer season.
Another variation I love is the strawberry caprese.
Next on my list before the peaches disappear is blueberry and peach caprese salad.
Add pasta to a caprese salad to make a filling lunch.
For today’s recipe I’ve used honeydew melon, cucumber, tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella.
Sunday Funday
By the way, Sunday Funday is a group of Food Bloggers. Every Sunday we share some fun, traditional, hearty or easy recipes to make Sunday Family Meals a bit more exciting. To join this fun group, visit the Sunday Funday Facebook Page. Request to join in.
Theme: Basil
This week Sue who blogs at Palatable Pastime suggested we use only fresh basil, no dried, pastes, oils etc. As basil is abundantly available and I didn’t want to spend time cooking as it is quite hot, I opted for an easy but super delicious and hydrating honeydew caprese salad. Initially I had planned to redo my old post on Basil Garlic Bread, but guess it will have to wait till it becomes a bit cool.
What Is Basil?
Basil is a herb that belongs to the Mint or Lamiaceae family. It is a common herb used in Italian, Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese Cuisine. The herb is fragrant and tastes peppery sweet. There are several varieties of basil but I’ve had the opportunity to use only Thai basil besides the sweet basil. Thai basil tends to be more anise flavour.
Holy Basil is another type of basil that is very common in the Indian Sub Continent. It is usually not used as a garnish or as a herb in cooking. Holy basil is often used for medicinal purposes like Kadha/ Herbal Tea. Also the leaves are chewed on to relieve stomach ailments, tooth or gum aches. Holy basil has a peppery taste. It has several medicinal properties. Also known as Tulsi in Hindi, it is often used when worshipping and offering Lord Krishna as He loves this holy plant.
Some Dishes Where I Have Used Fresh Basil
Check Out How Fellow Members Of Sunday Funday Have Used Fresh Basil
- Sicilian Caponata from Pandemonium Noshery
- Creamy Turkey Pesto Risotto from Amy’s Kitchen Adventures
- Honeydew Caprese Salad from Mayuri’s Jikoni
- Keto Avocado & Basil Green Goddess Dressing from Sneha’s Recipe
- Pad Kee Mao (Thai Drunken Noodles) from Palatable Pastime
- Pesto Bread from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
HONEYDEW CAPRESE SALAD
Ingredients
- 2 cups honeydew cubes cut into small cubes
- 1 small cucumber
- 10-12 baby tomatoes
- 12 basil leaves
- ¾ cup mozzarella cut into small cubes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Remove the peel and chop honeydew into small cubes.
- Slice the cucumber or cut into quarters.
- Slice the tomatoes into halves.
- Chop the fresh mozzarella into small cubes.
- Chop the basil.
- Add salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic glaze.
- Toss the salad and serve.
Notes
- Chop the basil as it turns blackish. Add and mix immediately.
- Add rocket if you want to.
- Can use normal tomatoes. Cut them into small pieces.
- Use a mixture of melons like watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew.
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A Little Request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
add a comment below,
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