Recipe courtesy Gourmet Magazine
Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
For syrup:
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/3 cup water
2 limes, zest removed in strips with a vegetable peeler
1 vanilla bean, split
8 cups 3/4 to 1-inch cantaloupe melon balls (from two 5-pound melons)
Garnish: whipped cream and freshly grated lime zest
In a small saucepan simmer syrup ingredients, stirring, until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute.
Remove pan from heat, add split vanilla bean, and cool syrup completely.
Discard zest and vanilla bean. Syrup may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
Just before serving, in a medium bowl combine melon balls with syrup and divide mixture among 6 martini glasses.
Top each serving with a generous dollop of cream and garnish with grated zest.