Top 5 Ways To Celebrate Father’s Day With Cantaloupe
It seems appropriate that Father’s Day coincides with the first weeks of the American dad’s favorite time of year: grilling season. It’s the perfect occasion to tell Dad to put down the barbecue tongs and let you treat him for once.
Of course, we have a few ideas to help you get started.
Raise a glass to Dad. Ever heard of cantaloupe beer? It’s out there! I & I Brewing in Chino, California, includes Cantaloupe Golden Ale — made with real cantaloupe — in their tap rotation. If you can’t make it to their brewery to pick up a growler, try pairing your meal with a light wheat ale. It’ll be almost as refreshing as a chilled cantaloupe.
Grilled Cantaloupe – Give it A Try. Yes, you can put a cantaloupe on the barby. Try the easy grilling idea pictured here by combining chunks of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cantaloupe cubes and red onion. Grill until the chicken is cooked through.
Say it with salsa. Grilled seafood and fresh melon salsa is a winning summer combination. We used shrimp for this recipe, but you could replace it with tuna steaks, catfish, halibut — this recipe is versatile.
Get the Grilled Shrimp and Cantaloupe Salsa recipe here!
Get creative. You could trot out the same old fruit salad, but why not step up your game? This ginger-marinated melon packs a tasty punch.
Marinated Melon (adapted from MyRecipes.com)
1 cantaloupe, roughly 3.5-4 pounds
1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon lime zest
1 tablespoon lime juice
¼ teaspoon coarse salt
Cheesecloth
Slice the cantaloupe in half and discard the seeds, then cut into ½-inch-thick wedges. Place the freshly grated ginger in cheesecloth and strain the juice into a large bowl, then discard the ginger. Add cantaloupe and the remaining ingredients to the bowl and toss gently. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill three hours or overnight.
See how easy it’ll be to tell your dad you love him with a home-cooked meal? You can even let him stand by the grill and tell you your barbecuing technique is off. (You know he will.) It’s OK. On Father’s Day, your dad really does know best.
