Cucumber-watermelon - two in one

This funny plant has many different names. His name is an American cucumber, and a mouse watermelon, and sour gherkin, and a watermelon cucumber, and a hummingbird cucumber. There is also a scientific name - melotry rough (Latin Melothria scabra). To us, a watermelon cucumber, or a cucumber watermelon, cucamelons came from Central and South America. The name itself is interesting: cucamelon is a derivative of the English cucumber (cucumber) and watermelon (watermelon).

Cucumber exotica

The fruits of the sour gherkin are edible. They are very small, from 1 to 4 cm, light green with dark stripes, like watermelon. Their skins are covered with a dense edge, stiff, with sourness. Here is the name "sour gherkin" from here.

Such mini watermelons are very juicy and crunchy, to the taste reminiscent of their relatives, ordinary cucumbers. They are salted, sour, pickled, eaten raw. Collect the ripe fruit is still young, otherwise the flesh is not so tender and there are a lot of seeds in them. From one bush it is possible to collect from 4 to 6 kg of fruits and up to 1.5 kg of tubers. Overripe cucumber watermelon becomes sweet to the taste, the seeds harden, its color becomes not so bright, the dark strips become lighter and turn yellow. There are other varieties of mini-watermelons. Their color in the form of a mesh is more like a melon. In Latin America, their name is Sandita or "mouse melon".

Delicious bonus

You can not ignore the root crops. They are also edible, taste like yam, radish and cucumber and are good in salads with greens and seasonal vegetables. Only they are stored for a short time, so immediately after digging it is necessary to send them to the plate.

Stems and leaves

This is a perennial lianate plant with small oval-shaped fruits, like large grapes, the coloring resembling mini watermelons, and the taste is cucumber. Often it is grown as decorative, because its stems reach a height of three meters. Melotry has a lot of leaves and fruits. It is well suited for landscaping gazebos in the garden, canopies, fences. This liana very quickly curls and grows, clinging to all the rough antennae, so it needs supports at least 2 meters in height. Flowers and leaves of mouse watermelon are similar to cucumber. Only in males, flowers are collected in inflorescences, while in females it is a single flower with a pleasant aroma attracting bees. Unlike their relatives, the cucumber-watermelon remains green all summer, does not turn yellow and does not lose leaves, and its fruits remain color and shape until the first frosts. Melotry is very unpretentious in the care, does not require frequent watering and a lot of land, it can be grown even on the balcony.

Beneficial features

As you know, watermelon cucumber is used not only as an ornamental plant. Its fruits are edible and beneficial to the body. So, the fiber, which is part of their composition, normalizes the work of the intestines, relieves constipation, helps to eliminate toxins and toxins.
Low calorie helps to reduce weight in people who want to lose weight. Regular intake of these vegetables has a beneficial effect on the pancreas, kidneys, reduces swelling, improves the cardiovascular system, lowers blood pressure.

Contraindications

Despite a number of useful properties of the sour gherkin, it does not suit everyone. So, people with high acidity should refrain from eating it. Due to the acid contained in the peel, a cucumber-watermelon can provoke gastritis and stomach ulcers. Salted and marinated fruits are contraindicated in diseases of the liver and kidneys.

Dish recipes

Mini-cucumbers-watermelons are good in pickles and marinade. Sometimes they are added with red hot pepper, which only improves the taste. They are also good in salted pickles: with tomatoes, sweet pepper, zucchini and broccoli. To emphasize the unusual and exotic dishes, for serving use miniature dishes in light colors.

They can also be used as a side dish for meat and fish dishes. In its raw form, they are suitable for salads, one of which is offered below.

Vegetable salad with melody

It will take:

• Salad curly;
• Melody - 5 pieces;
• Cherry tomatoes - 5 pcs;
• Feta cheese - 100 g;
• Olives - 5 pieces;
• olive oil.

On a wide plate to put the leaves of lettuce, cherry tomatoes and melody cut into halves, add feta, olives, season with olive oil.

Meat salad with melody, arugula and tomatoes

This dish is very light, nutritious and contains few calories. If desired, mayonnaise can be replaced with low-fat yogurt, and instead of beef for variety use chicken.

Ingredients:

• Beef boiled - 300 g;
• Boiled eggs - 2 pieces;
• Melody - 10 pieces;
• 10 cherry tomatoes;
• Arugula;
• dill;
• green onion;
• Crackers rye;
• mayonnaise.

Rukkola wash and put in a shallow salad bowl, add chopped dill. Slice tomatoes and mini watermelons. Boiled beef crushed with straw, mix and season with mayonnaise. Before serving on the table from above decorate with croutons.

This is a fairly light and satisfying dish. Of course, watermelon cucumber can be replaced with lightly salted cucumbers. But it is his piquant taste that gives the dish tenderness, freshness and light acidity.