This week for Thirty Minute Thursdays, cooking our way through Giuliano Hazan's Thirty Minute Pasta book with Glennis and whoever else wants to join us, I made Spaghetti al Melone (Spaghetti with Melon), on page 73. If I had not decided to try to make as many of the 100 recipes in this book as I can, I would have undoubtedly skipped over this recipe and thought it sounded a little weird and maybe not even all that good.
The ingredient list: cantaloupe, butter, salt, black pepper, spaghetti, tomato paste, freshly squeezed lemon juice, cream, and freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Spaghetti with cantaloupe which has been cooked? Hmmm...nothing I thought that really rang any bells with me. That said, I had all the ingredients on hand and it is a hot summer day, a little pasta and fruit for lunch sounded like a fine deal. I was so surprised at how much I really liked this recipe...it is nice and creamy smooth with a little resistance to the cantaloupe which soften nicely and sweeten up a bit in the softening actually. I couldn't taste the tomato paste in it as it was such a tiny amount, but the sauce was nicely flavored, so that must have contributed a little something special. I could taste the little bit of saltiness which brought a deeper flavor to the cantaloupe.
It's very good, and I am thinking that on those days when a little protein would be a good thing, I am certain this would be lovely with shrimp or scallops in the mix as well. Going there soon before cantaloupe season ends definitely. Lesson: sometimes really good things come from trying something outside your comfort zone...spaghetti and fruit, who knew?
If you like the looks and sounds of it, buy the book as I am a believer in encouraging people to support the authors who put together these fabulous books by buying a copy, so you won't find the recipes posted from this book here. (Buy it, the recipes are easy, the ingredients are easy to locate, it's not pricey, and there are photos of almost all the recipes.)
