Name: Pickled melon with serrano ham
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 200 ml white wine vinegar; 120 gm white sugar; 4 cloves; 2 star anise; 1 cinnamon quill; ¼ tsp coriander seeds; 1 piece of lemon rind, removed with a peeler; 10 thin slices of serrano ham (see note); 300 gm peeled seedless watermelon; ½ rockmelon, peeled

Pickled melon with serrano ham

Australian Gourmet Traveller easy appetiser recipe for pickled melon with serrano ham by Ben Shewry

Serves 6

Prep

10M

Cook

10M

Total

20M

“This is a great little appetiser to start a meal. It’s perfect with a glass of Champagne.”

Ingredients

200 ml white wine vinegar

120 gm white sugar

4 cloves

2 star anise

1 cinnamon quill

¼ tsp coriander seeds

1 piece of lemon rind, removed with a peeler

10 thin slices of serrano ham (see note)

300 gm peeled seedless watermelon

½ rockmelon, peeled

Method

Main

1.Combine vinegar, sugar, spices, lemon rind, a pinch of salt and 200ml water in a small saucepan over medium heat and simmer for 3 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

2.Preheat oven to 200C. Place ham in a single layer on a baking paper-lined oven tray and bake until completely crisp and dry (about 5 minutes).

3.Cut melons into 1.5cm x 4cm batons and stand in pickling liquid for 1 minute. Remove, drain on absorbent paper and serve with ham.