Melons With Ginger Syrup Food

MELON WITH ORANGE-GINGER SYRUP

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice and water; set aside. Place the orange juice, sugar, and ginger in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Let simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved and syrup has thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; strain syrup into a clean bowl; add the Cointreau; stir to combine. Set bowl in ice bath, or chill in refrigerator, until syrup is cold.
• Using different sizes of melon ballers, cut balls from the honeydew and canary melons. Place balls in a medium bowl; add 1/2 cup cold syrup and orange zest. Toss to combine.
• To serve, arrange cantaloupe on a platter. Spoon melon balls on top. Serve extra melon balls on the side. Drizzle melons with syrup; garnish with mint. Serve with Orange Lace Cookies and remaining syrup on the side.

GINGER LIME MELON BALLS

Steps:

• In small saucepan, combine juice, water, ginger and zest. Set pan over medium-high heat and bring to boil. Boil 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture reduces to 2 tablespoons.
• Strain mixture though fine sieve to remove zest. (I'm not sure this step is really needed).
• Place melon in bowl, toss with ginger-lime mixture. Let sit for 15 minutes. You can drain the sauce or serve it with the melon.
• Garnish with mint (optional).

MELON AND GINGER SOUP

Steps:

• Cut the whole melon into 8 wedges and the half into 4, and set aside two of the wedges. Remove the remaining melon from the rinds, and chop coarsely. Puree until smooth in a blender or a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Transfer to a bowl and whisk in the lime zest and 1 tablespoon of the lime juice, the salt, buttermilk, 1 teaspoon of the ginger juice, and the agave syrup. Taste and add the remaining ginger juice if desired. Cut the remaining wedges of melon into very small dice and place in a separate bowl. Chill the soup and diced melon for at least 1 hour.
• Just before serving, toss the diced melon with the mint and remaining lime juice. Ladle the soup into bowls, top with the melon and mint, and serve.