Salted melon recipe — a spicy and flavorful pickled melon appetizer

Salted melon is an unusual, savory, and delicious appetizer that pairs perfectly with cured and smoked meats, tangy hard cheeses, leafy greens, and lightly salted red fish, such as salmon and trout. It is easy and simple to prepare and requires no special culinary skills or talents, yet it is sure to impress even the most discerning gourmets.

Cinnamon and cloves are added to the melon marinade. These exceptionally beneficial spices give the appetizer a distinctive flavor and, without exaggeration, an unparalleled aroma.

Cinnamon contains B vitamins, which are essential for the proper functioning of the central nervous system and brain and for supporting cognitive function. It also contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C), which helps support the body’s natural defenses and protects cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Cloves are rich in eugenol, an essential oil compound with pronounced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. They also contain manganese, which contributes to collagen and bone tissue formation and helps activate digestive and other enzymes.

CraftOil offers a vast, regularly expanded and updated selection of products. Our catalog always includes cinnamon (ground and whole sticks) and cloves, all quality-certified and packaged in convenient, airtight plastic jars on the day your order is placed. We guarantee premium quality, 100% natural products, and fast shipping to every corner of Ukraine and worldwide.

Ingredients

To make this spicy and savory salted melon appetizer (for two 500 ml jars), you will need:

• 600 g melon flesh;
• 300 g water;
• ½ teaspoon salt;
• 1½ tablespoons sugar;
• 2 tablespoons 9% vinegar;
• 4 whole cloves;
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon;
• 2 garlic cloves;

Step-by-step preparation

Remove the melon rind and seeds. Rinse the melon flesh under running water, cut it into cubes, and place it in thoroughly washed and sterilized jars. Peel the garlic cloves, rinse them, cut each into 3–4 pieces, and add them to the jars.

Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan or another suitable container. Pour the boiling water over the melon, close the jars with their lids, and leave them for 15 minutes.

Pour the liquid back into the saucepan. Add the salt, sugar, cinnamon, and cloves. Simmer over medium heat for 4–5 minutes, until the mixture comes to a boil and the dry ingredients dissolve. Then add the vinegar.

Stir the marinade thoroughly and pour it into the jars containing the melon.

Seal the jars, turn them upside down, wrap them in a blanket or towel, and leave them for 24 hours.

Salted melon can be stored at room temperature. When serving, garnish with a sprig of fresh mint or basil.

Notes and variations:

For a spicier appetizer, add a pinch of coriander and 3–4 allspice berries to the brine along with the cinnamon and cloves.

If you replace the vinegar with freshly squeezed lemon juice, the melon will have a more delicate and mild flavor.

These spices, along with many other seasonings, dried herbs, grains, and seeds of various varieties, are always available at the Ukrainian online store CraftOil.