Selection, Storage, and Preparation

Pepinos are available late fall to mid-spring. Fruits with a light yellow or green skin are not ripe, while fruits with dark purple stripes are ripe. Ripen at room temperature until as firm as a slightly ripe plum, then refrigerate ripe fruit for up to 3 days.

Make Pepinos part of your 5 to 9 A Day Plan!

• Pepinos are best served peeled and cubed or sliced.
• Use atop spinach salads.
• Add to fruit medleys.
• Eat plain for breakfast or a light snack.

RECIPES

Sea Scallops in Parma Ham With Pepino Melon
Makes 4 servings
Each serving equals one 5 A Day serving

Ingredients

2 pepino melons, seeded
2 tsp sugar
6 chives, minced
1/8 tsp salt
10 sea scallops
1 tsp soy sauce
5 paper-thin slices prosciutto, halved lengthwise
10 basil leaves plus 4 sprigs
2 Tbsp olive oil

Cut one melon into a fine dice; place in glass bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of the sugar and 2/3 of the chives; set aside. Chop the other melon into chunks; place in blender with 1 teaspoon of the sugar and salt. Process until smooth. Cover; refrigerate.

Combine the scallops, soy sauce and remaining chives in a nonreactive bowl; set aside. Place 1 scallop on 1 prosciutto half-slice; top with a basil leaf. Roll prosciutto slice around scallop; place seam side down on plate or storage container. Repeat with remaining scallops; refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour.

Heat oven to 450 º. Heat oil in a skillet over high heat; add scallop/prosciutto rolls, seam side down. Cook, turning, until prosciutto begins to brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer scallop packages to baking sheet; bake 4 minutes. Remove from oven.

Place 1 tablespoon of the diced melon mixture in the center of 5 small plates; arrange 3 scallop rolls around fruit on each plate. Top scallops with melon puree; garnish with basil sprigs.

Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories 161, Protein 8g, Fat 8g, Calories From Fat 42%, Cholesterol 13mg, Carbohydrates 15g, Fiber 3g, Sodium 500mg.

Content source: Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

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