Watermelon Fruit Basket
Author: Mama Z
Ingredients
- 1 non GMO watermelon with a fairly flat bottom and its fruit from the inside (cubed OR balled)
- Berries and your personal choice of other fruits - blackberries, blueberries, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries, etc.
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Zest from 1 lemon and 1 lime
- Fresh herb sprigs: chocolate mint, lemon balm, lemon verbena, peppermint, spearmint, peppermint, etc.
- Lemon essential oil
Supplies
- Black sharpie marker
- Serrated knife
- Melon baller
- Fruit zester
Instructions
- Use a black Sharpie marker to outline the sides and handle of your watermelon basket.
- Use a serrated knife to cut the watermelon skin into the fruit inside. Leave your handle about 1½ inches wide so it won't break, but if you accidentally cut it, you can use toothpicks to secure the handle.
- Use your melon baller and ice cream scoop to remove the edible fruit from inside and hollow out your watermelon. Save the edible melon balls/pieces in a container to serve, and also put some back in your watermelon fruit basket later.
- Clean off the remaining marker from the watermelon rind using/lemon essential oil on a napkin or cloth.
- Alternate adding berries, watermelon pieces, and other fruit chunks into the watermelon basket.
- Garnish with a few herb sprigs on top of the fruit as desired, and drizzle lemon juice over the fresh fruit. Using a zester, zest the lemon and lime.
- Sprinkle a little lemon and lime zest over the fruit. Serve with a large serving spoon in the watermelon basket, a container of coconut whipped cream, and a small bowl of lemon and/or lime zest for topping.
- Alternatively, serve on a plate or in a bowl with a dollop of coconut whipped cream and sprinkle lightly with zest.
Do not get overwhelmed if each of your cuts are not perfect when carving the melon. Get as creative with your basket design as you feel comfortable. Sometimes I even leave a middle piece to resemble the basket handle. You can add your favorite fruit into the basket. If the fruit is chilled in the watermelon basket, the rind acts as a cooler and helps to keep the fruit salad cold during serving.
The watermelon fruit basket is not only tasty, but it also serves as table decor when hosting an outdoor party. My favorite part of serving this fruit salad at my parties is the dip! The fruit goes perfectly with my homemade coconut whipped cream.
