One summer day in Australia I found this small and perfectly round cantaloupe lying forgotten in my refrigerator. The obvious thing would be to cut it and eat it as a fruit. However the streak of creativity got the better of me. I remembered having read a recipe somewhere of a pasta cooked with cantaloupe. Cantaloupe… like seriously could one make pasta in something other than red or white sauce. To be candid even if I could be very adventurous at times when it came to food I was not sure if my kids would touch it being picky eaters that they are. Only the taste could tell how it would be received. Finally after finding that recipe I gave it a go.

To make this pasta dish I used the Farfalle pasta as the recipe demanded. This type of Pasta is also known as the bow tie Pasta. The e at the end of ‘Farfalle’ makes it the Italian feminine plural ending making the meaning as butterflies.

This pasta dish has a really mild flavour as you can see its not spicy at all, what I would do is add a dash of pepper on top and of course the parmesan cheese before serving . It also has a slightly sweet taste to it. You would probably not even notice that the pasta was cooked in a fruit if you stopped thinking it was made from Cantaloupe. It might please the kids and those who enjoy their food cooked in mild flavours.

Cantaloupe is a really nutritious fruit and is known as Rock Melon, Musk Melon, Sweet melon or Mush melon in different countries.

Benefits of eating Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe has a high water content and thus is a great summer fruit. it is a good alternative to cure dehydration. Further its good for preventing constipation and improving the health of the digestive tract.

The ingredient present in cantaloupe called zeaxanthin filters out harmful blue light rays and also very good for the eyes.

Beta carotene is found in orange and yellow fruits like cantaloupe, pumpkin, carrots and leafy greens. Cantaloupe is also rich in Vitamin C . Those people who consume more of such fruits are likely to be protected against Asthma.

Cantaloupe is rich in potassium which helps in alleviating the blood pressure. High potassium content is also good for reducing risks of stroke and reduction of formation of kidney stones.

Not to forget that the vitamin A in it helps to improve the health of your skin and hair. It keeps the hair soft by helping in releasing sebum which keeps the hair moisturised . It also helps in cell regeneration and aids skin repair.

So Cantaloupe is full of goodness and should be a nice addition to one’s diet.

While buying cantaloupe look for one that is firm to touch, heavy and symmetrical without any soft bruising’s. In the season they are sweet and juicy. While in off- season they are a bit light coloured , hard and a little dry.