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Native to the Kalahari Desert, the Kiwano is also known as the Horned Melon, the melano, the African horned cucumber, the jelly melon, and the hedged gourd. When allowed to ripen, the fruit tastes like a mix of cucumbers, kiwis, and bananas. Now that you have one of these interesting fruits, where do you start? Read on to find out. [1] X Research source
Steps
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Choose a kiwano that is fully ripened. It'll have an orange rind with orange spikes. Squeeze it slightly to make sure it has some give and isn't rock hard and green. [2] X Research source If you can't find a fully ripened fruit at the store, wait for it to turn orange before eating it.
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Give it a rinse. While you won't be eating the outside, it's always a good idea to rinse fruit you're planning on cutting, to avoid any pesticides or other chemicals on the outside when you cut into it with a knife.Advertisement
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Cut the fruit in half short-ways, across the equator. Set one half aside. This is the best way of cutting the fruit for eating it by itself.
- If you want to scoop the seeds out for use in a recipe or fruit salad, it can be easier to scoop if you cut it lengthwise. It's up to you. [3] X Research source
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Hold one half of the fruit up to your mouth. Slowly, but firmly, squeeze the fruit from the lower end. Each tiny greenish sac will contain a cucumber-like seed, and they should come to the cut surface of the fruit easily with a little pressure.
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Eat them. Like a pomegranate , the seeds are perfectly edible, but are somewhat bland. What you're after is the sweet green flesh around the seed. You can take one at a time into your mouth and separate the seed before spitting it out, or take a whole mouthful and chew it up.
- If you don't like the seeds, try pinching the sac of fruit gently with your front teeth. Suck the sac of fruit through your top and bottom teeth, pinching enough to hold the seed on the outside of your teeth, yet still allowing the fruit to pass through.
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Consider scooping out the fruit. You can also scoop out the seeds into a bowl and eat them with a spoon if you prefer. Its easier to break the little green kernels that way, but can be somewhat easier if you don't want to bury your face in the fruit.
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Add kiwano to a fruit salad . Like kiwi, kiwano can make a nice colorful addition to a fruit salad, and an unexpected treat for guests. Mix bananas, mango, and melon with a sprinkling of kiwano for a beautiful summer fruit salad. [4] X Research source
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Garnish roasted meat with kiwano. Grilling steaks or chops? Instead of topping with rich cheese or mushrooms, consider sprinkling some kiwano kernels on top of your meat a few minutes before serving for an exotic and tangy highlight. [5] X Research source
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Make kiwano salsa. Seed one kiwano melon into a bowl and mix it with:
- the juice of one lime
- a clove of garlic
- a palm-full of fresh chopped cilantro
- one green onion, or a 1/8 of a white onion
- a quarter-teaspoon of cumin
- Mix in a small amount of vegetable oil to coat the mixture and use the salsa as a garnish for meat, grilled vegetables, or eat it with chips for some surprising nachos.
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Garnish cocktails with kiwano. Sprinkle a few green kernels into a champagne flute before mixing up a mimosa or to highlight a gin and tonic instead of a lime slice.
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Make the Intergalactic Nebula. Remove the Kiwano melon seeds and place in a cup. Fill the cup with sparkling red grape juice cocktail 3/4 of the way to the top of the cup. With the remainder space, add half and a half (optional), Serve in layers for the best look before stirring.
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Recipe Ideas
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I make a smoothie with it?Jason SwiatkowskiCommunity AnswerYes, but you may want to strain the seeds out first. Scoop out the inside and pass the pulp through cheesecloth or a fine strainer to separate the seeds from the juice.
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QuestionCan I plant the seeds?Community AnswerYes! Plant the seeds about an inch into the soil during the spring. After that you can find instructions online for caring for the plants.
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QuestionHow long does it last in a Ziplock bag?Community AnswerIt will not last very long before it spoils.
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Tips
- Cut the horns off the fruit if they bother your hand, but there should be ample space between the horns to hold the fruit with comfort.Thanks
- You can use a straw to suck up the still sacked-seeds from a bowl.Thanks
- You can squeeze out all the seed sacs at once into a bowl, and then work on them from there without having to deal with the horned shell.Thanks
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Warnings
- The spines aren't dangerous, but can be somewhat sharp. Be careful when handling.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Kiwano fruit
- knife
- Bowl
References
- ↑ https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Horn_Melon_656.php
- ↑ https://www.myfoodchannel.com/tag/how-to-pick-kiwano/
- ↑ https://www.eatme.eu/products/kiwano
- ↑ https://parade.com/64398/lindsaylowe/what-the-heck-is-a-kiwano-melon-and-how-do-you-eat-it/
- ↑ https://www.melissas.com/Products/Products/kiwano-horned-melon.aspx
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To eat a kiwano, rinse the melon off and slice it in half short-ways, across the equator. Hold one half of the fruit up to your mouth and squeeze the lower end to enjoy the fleshy green kernels. Kiwano melons have edible seeds, but feel free to spit them out if you don't like the taste. You can also add raw kiwano to fruit salad, blend it into a tasty salsa, or garnish your favorite cocktail with a few of the sweet green kernels. If you want to learn how to tell if a kiwano is ripe for eating, keep reading the article!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I have never eaten a horned melon. I've seen them in the supermarket, but wasn't sure what was safe to eat, and how to eat it. This article was extremely informative, and I loved having the visual aids as well. I look forward to trying one soon. :)" ..." more
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"I have never eaten a horned melon. I've seen them in the supermarket, but wasn't sure what was safe to eat, and how to eat it. This article was extremely informative, and I loved having the visual aids as well. I look forward to trying one soon. :)"
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"Love to try new foods, saw these at our local Sprouts and had to get one. Loved it and it was quite the conversation piece during a recent get together. Didn't really realize how many people are resistant about trying unfamiliar things"
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"I bought the kiwano on a whim and just cut it in half and ate it. The step by step was wonderful, and I also like the suggested uses. Will certainly try the melon again now that I know what I'm eating and what to do with it."
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"A friend gave us seeds to grow in our garden. We have lots of fruit, but weren't sure when to harvest it or what to do with it after we harvested. This gave us the answers we needed."
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"The ripe stage was important to illustrate, as they are a new fruit in Australia. I had no idea what to do with my horned melons."
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