Melon is one of the protagonist fruits of summer. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it is very refreshing both as a starter and as a dessert. To avoid wasting too much of this fruit, you can recycle the peel and seeds. Here are 5 ingenious tips to make the most of this thirst-quenching fruit.
Prepare the jam
Don’t throw away melon peels when you eat them, but keep them in the freezer. When you have collected a good quantity, cook them in a large saucepan with a lot of sugar, a little water and a little lemon zest. Put the lid on and cook for about two hours. When the mixture takes on a gelatinous appearance, the jam is ready.
Preparation of candied melon peels
Take approximately 500 g of melon peel and cut it into thin strips. Place them in boiling water for 10 minutes. In another saucepan, bring 15 cl of water with 300 g of sugar to the boil. Add the blanched melon zest, grated fresh ginger and the juice of two lemons. Leave to cook on the stove for two hours. Then, decant into airtight jars for fifteen days. After this time, you can eat candied melon peels .
Prepare the melon vinegar
Melon vinegar is the perfect ingredient to enhance the flavor of meats during the winter season. To prepare it, cut the melon peel into small pieces. Then bring 25 cl of white vinegar, 100 g of sugar, cloves, thyme or marjoram to the boil in a saucepan. Pour the peel into a jar and add the mixture. After a month, your melon vinegar will be ready.
Grow your own melons
If you have a green thumb, think about growing your own melons. To do this, keep about 15 melon seeds in your cupboard. Rinse them and put them in a dark corner for fifteen days. Then sow the seeds using two seeds per pot, each about 10cm in diameter. When the seeds turn into young shoots, you can plant them in the ground after May, when there will be no more night frosts.
Compost feeding
You can use melon peel to add to compost. Cut it into pieces to make it easier to break down.