Description
A refreshing and elegant melon dessert marinated in citrus, Grand Marnier, and vanilla, served with vanilla ice cream and topped with flaky salt and fresh mint. Perfect for a light and sophisticated summer treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Melon Mixture
- 6 cups very ripe melon, cut into chunks
- ⅓ cup cane sugar
- 3 shots Grand Marnier
- Zest of 1 blood orange
- Juice of 2 blood oranges
- 2 ½ tbsp olive oil
- ½ tbsp vanilla bean paste
Toppings
- Vanilla ice cream (lactose-free for dairy-free option)
- Olive oil, for drizzling
- Flaky salt, for topping
- Mint sprigs, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the melon chunks, cane sugar, Grand Marnier, blood orange zest, blood orange juice, vanilla bean paste, and 2 ½ tablespoons of olive oil. Stir well to ensure everything is evenly mixed and the melon is coated with the marinade.
- Marinate: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the melon mixture. Allow it to marinate for at least 6-8 hours, though it can be left up to 24 hours to develop deeper flavors and soften the melon slightly.
- Serve: When ready to enjoy, spoon the marinated melon into serving bowls. Add a scoop of the marinade on top along with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Drizzle additional olive oil over the ice cream, sprinkle flaky salt over everything, and garnish with fresh mint sprigs for a bright finish.
Notes
- For a dairy-free dessert, use lactose-free or dairy-free vanilla ice cream.
- Marinating the melon for longer enhances the flavor infusion and softens the fruit.
- Flaky salt adds a pleasant contrast to the sweetness of the fruit and ice cream.
- Be sure to use very ripe melon for the best natural sweetness.
- Grand Marnier adds a subtle orange liqueur flavor but can be omitted or replaced with orange juice for a non-alcoholic version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: melon dessert, blood orange, marinated melon, summer dessert, no-cook dessert, Grand Marnier dessert, fruit and ice cream dessert
