Cantaloupe Basil Coolers Recipes

CANTALOUPE BASIL COOLERS

Steps:

• Place basil leaves and vodka in a mason jar and refrigerate for at least an hour up to 24 hours.
• Place cubed cantaloupe in a blender and blend until smooth. Drain mixture through a sieve to get the larger chunks out. Add water and sugar to the drained cantaloupe juice. Makes about 2 cups of juice.
• To make one drink, mix 1 part basil infused vodka and 3 parts cantaloupe juice over ice. Serve cold!

CANTALOUPE AND PROSCIUTTO WITH BASIL OIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• On a baking sheet toast pine nuts until golden, about 5 minutes, and cool. In a blender purée basil with oil until basil is minced. Pour purée through a very fine sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on solids, and discard solids.
• Halve and seed cantaloupe. Cut melon into 1/4-inch-thick wedges and discard rind.
• Spoon basil oil onto 4 plates. Arrange melon decoratively over oil and top with prosciutto. Sprinkle melon and prosciutto with pine nuts and cheese.

CANTALOUPE BASIL SALSA

Steps:

• Toss together all ingredients in a bowl and let stand, covered and chilled, 10 minutes.

CANTALOUPE-BASIL-GRAPEFRUIT COOLER

Steps:

• In a small heatproof bowl, pour 1/2 cup boiling water over sugar and basil; stir until sugar has dissolved. Let cool completely, about 20 minutes. Strain syrup into a blender; discard basil.
• Add cantaloupe, grapefruit juice, and 1 3/4 cups cold water; blend until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
• Serve over ice, garnished with a basil sprig, or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days. If using vodka, stir a shot (1-ounce) into each glass before serving.