Melon Smoothies

Melon Smoothies  America's Test Kitchen

Makes 4 1/2 cups, enough for 4 servings

Make sure the melon is absolutely ripe, if not overripe. Underripe melon yields bland smoothies that taste, if anything, like cardboard. Vary the amounts of sugar and lemon juice depending on the ripeness of the fruit.

Ingredients

• 1 medium banana (ripe, about 4 ounces), peeled and cut crosswise into eight pieces
• 3 1/2 cups watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew 1- to 2-inch cubes
• 1/3 cup whole milk
• 1/3 cup white cranberry juice or apple juice
• pinch table salt
• 3 - 6 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 2 - 3 teaspoons lemon juice
• 3 ice cubes (about 1 1/2 ounces total)

Instructions

Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; arrange banana and melon in single layer on baking sheet. Freeze fruit until very cold, but not frozen, about 10 minutes. In blender, puree cold fruit, milk, juice, salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and ice until uniformly smooth, 10 to 15 seconds. Taste for sugar and lemon; if desired, add more sugar or lemon and blend until combined, about 2 seconds longer. Serve immediately.