MATT TAYLOR-GROSS
Techniques

Video: How to Make Summer Melon Butter

Preserve ripe summer melons with a simple spread from Silvia Baldini

Chef Silvia Baldini grew up making this summery melon spread every year with her family in Italy; it's a great way to preserve dense melons like cantaloupes into the winter. Pair it with prosciutto, cheeses, or spread it on toast.

Baldini takes two very ripe melons—go for melons that aren't too watery, like cantaloupe or charentais—removes the skin, and dices them. She then adds them to a pot along with half of their weight in sugar and cooks them until they break down, about 40 minutes. Then she uses an immersion blender to make a very smooth purée, then returns it to the heat and cooks it down for another ten minutes, until it's thick and jelly-like. From there, you can either pour it into jars and refrigerate it for a couple of weeks, or process it (refer to the NCHFP's canning guidelines) and break it out in winter, when perfectly ripe summer melons are a distant memory.

Continue to Next Story

Want more SAVEUR?

Get our favorite recipes, stories, and more delivered to your inbox.