Melon Del Sapo

HEALTH BENEFITS

In addition, it is very rich in potassium which is good for your heart. Its main quality is the high concentration of vitamins A and C: just 200 grams of melon, in fact, contain 60 mg of vitamin C which is good to strengthen the immune system and protect the skin.

Warm weather staples like watermelon and cantaloupe may be a sweet summer memory, but as the weather cools down, other great melons make their way to grocery stores. While still grown in the summer, the 110 frost-free days that winter melons need to mature makes them perfect for fall or early winter harvest. These late bloomers include some common varieties like Honeydew, Crenshaw or Casaba, as well as some lesser-knowns like the Piel de Sapo, also known as the Christmas or Santa Claus melon.

The Piel de Sapo has a thick green outer rind resembling the skin of a toad, a juicy white flesh, and a taste somewhere between a honeydew and a pear. It can last on the counter for weeks, explaining the melon’s pseudonyms. Don’t wait for that enticing melon aroma to enjoy this winter treat though — it gives off little to no odour, even when ripe. A ripe Christmas melon will be heavy for its size with a firm flesh that has more yellow appearing through the green speckles.

Like other melons, the Christmas melon is low in calories and high in vitamin C and potassium, making it great for meals, snacks or desserts. Take advantage of the cooler weather to pair its delicate sweetness with some bolder flavours like the Kalamata olives and red onion in the recipe below. Despite the cold-weather name, the flavours of this melon are best when only slightly chilled. Be sure to take pre-cut melon out of the fridge a half hour before serving.