Don’t you love it when you discover a new fruit or vegetable? When I picked up our CSA this week, I spied a bin of what looked like the world’s smallest watermelons, grape sized! I was handed one to taste and was absolutely astonished. The first moment was just like biting into a fresh watermelon, but upon chewing, it definitely had the distinct flavor of cucumber with a slight sour tinge! I’d never seen them before. Certainly not grapes, but what were they?
Wrong on all counts
Well, it turns out it was neither watermelon nor cucumber. Cucamelon (Melothria scabra) is actually a gherkin, which is a member of the gourd family, like the cucumber, but it’s neither cucumber, nor watermelon.
A new superfood, or at least one that is really good for you
Cucamelon is a tropical plant, native to Mexico and Central America and might become the next superfood. They are said to benefit the heart and circulatory system, blood pressure, both female and male fertility, blood sugar regulation, and have anti-cancer components. Low in fat and carbs, cucamelons are a good source of protein, potassium, and lots of other vitamins and minerals including calcium and iron.
Versatile and tasty
Toss them in a salad, pickle them, or add them to a salsa. Use them wherever you would a cucumber. I decided to continue the watermelon illusion by pairing them with some spicy watermelon radishes, which are abundant here right now and sold by the bag at the farm stands. With some dried cranberries for a bit of sweetness, served on a bed of slightly bitter frisée, it was a nice combination with different textures and a range of flavors that worked nicely together. Use any vinaigrette you like here.
If nothing else, it’s a great conversation starter. Now, what was that strange white vegetable over there with the spiky little leaves…
Frisée Salad with Cucamelon and Watermelon Radish
- A cup or more of cucamelon, halved
- 1 large watermelon radish, cut into small wedges
- 1 shallot, finely sliced
- 1 tbsp. minced parsley
- 2 tbsp. or so dried cranberries
- 1 tbsp. cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp. fruity olive oil
- 1 tsp. grainy French mustard
- Salt and pepper
- Frisée lettuce
Cut the cucamelons in half and toss in a mixing bowl. Slice the radishes in discs, then into small watermelon wedges, and the shallots into thin slices. Toss those in with the parsley and cranberries as well and mix it all up.
Whisk together the vinegar, oil, mustard, and some salt and pepper to taste. Add salt to the vegetables as well, dress lightly, and plate on a bed of frisée or other desired green.
© Copyright 2023– or current year, The New Vintage Kitchen. Dorothy Grover-Read. Unattributed use of this material is strictly prohibited. Reposting and links may be used, provided that credit is given to The New Vintage Kitchen, with active link and direction to this original post.
The New Vintage Kitchen does not accept ads or payment for mention of products or businesses.
Supporter of: Slow Food Fair Trade USA Northeast Organic Farmers Association EcoWatch Let’s Save Our Planet No Kid Hungry Hunger Free Vermont Environmental Working Group World Central Kitchen Sustainable America
A lovely salad to celebrate the end of end of bountiful produce!
Thanks! It certainly was a celebratory salad with all those colors.
Thank you, Dorothy, for this wonderfully looking fruit!
I don’t know if I can find it here but I will definitely try!
Joanna
I had never seen it before Joanna, so good luck on your hunt!
Thank you, I will need it!
Joanna
❤️💕
That is the prettiest salad I’ve ever seen! Bravo!!!
Thanks Mimi! I was quite delighted with it. It always makes me happy when I use those watermelon radishes, that color! Just makes the day a little brighter.
wow didn’t know that
I’m with you! But I love being surprised by something different.
Dot, you find the most amazing foods in your area, and you created a gorgeous salad.
Thanks Bernie! You never know what you will find if you go searching.
Sounds delicious and exotic!
They were quite tasty! I hope they have them again next week so I can experiment.
What a find. I hope the miniature melons are safe and not cloned.🤔
What a find. I hope the yummy little melons are not cloned and healthy to eat. 🤔
Oh no, they are an ancient plant native to Mexico and central America. Our CSA is a strictly organic farm, so I had no worries about that.
I’m in the group “who knew”. Anyone who didn’t know would think you were serving a watermelon themed salad. Looks and sounds delicious!
I’m sure where you are they are probably quite common, but here in the north country I was definitely surprised! How do you like them?
Sorry, what I meant was that I had no idea about these little cucamelons. I haven’t ever seen them in any of our markets but if I do, I will remember that you found them first and i will now know how they taste. Thanks!
LOL! Totally misunderstood. Happy hunting.
I’ve never heard of that before!
It was definitely new on my list too Marilyn! Makes me wonder what else I’ve missed.
What a beautiful salad! What an interesting find! Your description makes my mouth water.
It was definitely a wonderful discovery. After I got home, I found dozens of sites about these little beauties when I went online!
If I see them, I am going to grab some!
Yes! Enjoy!
Thank you for introducing me to cucamelons. I have never heard of them before. I am now on the lookout for them. 😀
I had never seen them either! So delightful.
Well Dorothy these cucamelons are new to me, I must investigate further. Thanks!
I know! What a find! A delightful discovery on a grey day.
Once again, I wish we were neighbors so I could pull a couple of weeds for you in exchange for trying one of those. The salad looks delicious.
How about helping me plant some fall bulbs! I’m looking at my bulb order, and my clay soil. Any tips?
Here is another ignoramus! Had never sighted a cucamelon but Mr Google was smiley and helpful! Certainly not common here but available in season at some of the ‘better’ supermarkets. Also called a mouse melon or Mexican bitter melon . . . certainly interesting . . . shall keep an eye open for it . . . very pretty salad !!!
Thanks Eha! I think the image of mouse melon is quite funny!
I did not find them particularly bitter though, not as sweet as a cucumber, and definitely a bit on the almost sour side.
This looks really interesting. I will have to keep an eye out for it. (if we have it)
We’ll probably all see them now.
It often happens like that.
Looks colorful and refreshing. Your dishes are always so well put together!
Thank you so much! Pretty is the allure, but it also has to taste good!
I tried to grow some a few years ago with no success . . . maybe it’s time to try again? 🤔
It certainly is a novelty! Give it another try!
Very interesting! When the kids were small we tried “fruit of the week”, where we tried new or unusual vegetables or fruit as an team experiment! It was kind of fun and cucamelon would have been a good fit!
We did something similar, with vegetables, only not every week. It was fun, and I often picked up something I had never tried as well!
How interesting, and they do sound like a super food! Your salad is a work of art, love the colors!
Thank you Jenna! They were a delightful surprise.
OK I had no idea! I thought they were grapes too ~ So cool!!
We enjoyed them, no matter their family.
Have you seen the size of the green grapes this year. I don’t know what’s in the water and soil but they are huge. And now we have long grapes called ‘finger grapes’. They are just too creepy looking but Colette loves them. 😂
They have been big, and very sweet! Haven’t seen the finger grapes.
They are very weird looking. Google them.
Oh man! That’s just wrong!
I’ll be on the lookout.. Went a’googling and here’s what I found.
“taste like a strong cucumber, maybe with a little bit of citrus.”
They are quite the funny thing!
Someone finally figured out how to make watermelon without seeds! I’m in. They are super-cute, by the way. 🍃🍉
They are cute, and quite tasty!
Okay, my grandkids are going to think I’m a magician when I show them what I did with Nono’s watermelons! Never heard of these things. They look so fun. Hugs, C
I think they’d be perfectly at home sitting on the kitchen table, of Barbie’s dream house!
I’m going to be on the lookout for these in the future. Love trying new foods.
Happy hunting! I bet you’ll find them, sooner or later.
Well, aren’t those the cutest little things?! And I love, love, love that you mixed them up with watermelon radish. Such a clever, eye-catching combo!
They definitely begged to be invited to the party!
Wow, love the colors in this! I need to try those cucamelons and watermelon radishes!
The watermelon radishes seem to be everywhere right now; the cucamelons not so much sadly.
Wow! Cucumbers with watermelon flavors or mini watermelons with cucumber flavors 😆 and they look so pretty too! I’ve never seen them here! Very interesting!
They were new to me too!
Fruits and vegetables out of season or miniaturized makes me skeptical of them having been genetically engineered.🧐
These are not genetically engineered, I asked.
Although they look like a miniature watermelon, they are not a watermelon at all, and were bred and raised organically! There’s so much out there that we never see because it doesn’t fit into the commercial supermarket ideal.