There is something to be said about a Cucumber when you’re trying to beat the heat of summer. It’s such a refreshing, crisp, and oh-so-healthy fruit. Yes, that’s right, I said fruit. It’s available any time of year, but it’s peak times are right now, from May to August. Seems fitting since this is the time I want to beat the heat the most. This cool cucumber melon smoothie did the trick!
This week for #SundaySupper we are focusing on recipes that help to beat the heat. Think – no cooking, or low cooking (like the crock pot). I started thinking about this when I was planning my recipe. What is one thing I make a lot of during the summer months, and immediately I went straight to smoothies. Of course, it helps that Isabel reminded me of that when I got frustrated and couldn’t come up with anything new and a little different. (Something I strive for so often, it’s really ridiculous). So thank you Isabel for keeping me grounded and not allowing me to give up.
Anyway, smoothies are my summer thing. I definitely eat less during the summer, I am just always thirsty. I’d rather have a thirst quenching drink than anything else.
Sweet Basil and Cucumber Melon Smoothie
A smoothie isn’t really all that different or unique, and they are really healthy, but throw in some home grown sweet basil, fresh from the garden cucumbers and some almond milk together and you have the beginnings of one super healthy smoothie and honestly the most refreshing smoothie I’ve ever had. Toss in a couple of chunks of Cantaloupe just to enhance the flavor a bit and you might be surprised at just how tasty this Sweet Basil and Cucumber Melon Smoothie is. Make it even more healthy if your melon is sweet enough on it’s own. Jut eliminate the agave nectar/honey step, most of the time it doesn’t need it.
This was by far one of the best smoothies I’ve ever had. The point of a smoothie is to cool down usually. But I wanted something that was not only going to cool me down, but also refresh me a bit. This Sweet Basil & Cucumber Melon Smoothie did the trick. Not only did I cool off down to my core, but it quenched my thirst which was something I was truly after with this particular smoothie.
And if you’re still around, I hope you’ll go check out all the other participants AND check out my original beat the heat post – a delicious Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad. (with 3 ways to eat it as a meal!)
This week’s #SundaySupper team has taken on the challenge of the #BeatTheHeat theme and totally outdone themselves with mouthwatering appetizers, sweet cool treats, refreshing drinks to cool you down and scrumptious main dishes that require little to no heat. Be sure and check them out!
#BeatTheHeat Appetizers:
- Totally Cool Green Hummus ~ My Kitchen and I
- Smoked Whitefish Salad Bagel Bites ~ Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Grilled Loaded Baked Potato Skins ~ In the Kitchen with KP
- Sweet & Tangy Chili Lime Fruit Salad ~ Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
#BeatTheHeat Salads, Soups, & Sides:
- Cool Cucumber Salad ~ Momma’s Meals
- Lemony Garbanzo Kale Salad with Tuna ~ Shockingly Delicious
- Hungarian Cucumber Salad Recipe – Uborkasaláta Recept ~ The Watering Mouth
- Char-Grilled Corn Salad ~ The Little Ferraro Kitchen
- Summertime Sweet Pea Salad ~ Granny’s Down Home Southern Cooking
- Apple and Poppy Seed Coleslaw ~ Damn Delicious
- Chilly Dilly Cucumber Soup with Shrimp ~ Comfy Cuisine
- Mom’s Creamy Pea Salad ~ Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
#BeatTheHeat Main Dishes:
- Rainbow Slaw with Steak and Chipotle Crema ~ Cooking By The Seat of our Pants
- Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken ~ Make Dinner Easy
- Rolling with Kimbap ~ Kimchi Mom
- Ranch Chicken Tacos ~ Pippi’s In The Kitchen Again
- Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork ~ Cupcakes and Kale Chips
#BeatTheHeat Desserts:
- No-Cook Egg-Free Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream ~ Chocolate Moosey
- Peach Sorbet ~ Magnolia Days
- Icebox Chocolate Pie ~ Doggie at the Dinner Table
- Blackberry Lavender Popsicles ~ Girlichef
- Strawberry-Lime Margarita Ice Cream ~ Cookistry
- Elegant Fruit Jellies ~ Happy Baking Days
- Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches ~ That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Vanilla Peach Swirl Frozen Yogurt ~ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
- Espresso and Toasted Almond Semifreddo ~ The Messy Baker
- Raspberry Mousse ~ Basic and Delicious
- White Apricot & Honeysuckle Sorbet ~ Family Spice
#BeatTheHeat Drinks & Cocktails:
- Shirley Temple ~ Cravings of a Lunatic
- Prickly Pear White Wine Spritzer ~ Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Classic Daquiri ~ Katherine Martinelli
- Salty Lassi ~ Soni’s Food for Thought
- Sweet Basil & Cucumber Melon Smoothie ~ Daily Dish Recipes
Wine Pairings Provided By: ENOFYLZ
Sweet Basil and Cucumber Melon Smoothie Recipe
Sweet Basil & Cucumber Melon Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1½ cups cantaloupe cut into cubes
- 2 Seedless Cucumbers or de-seed a regular cucumber, sliced. I kept the peel on, but you can take it off if you want.
- ¼ cups fresh chopped sweet basil more if you like it, I do and usually do a ½ cup
- 1 cups almond milk I used vanilla to give it a little extra flavor
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar or honey
- Crushed Ice
Instructions
- In your blender, toss in the sweet basil and chop well. Add some of the almond milk. Add the cucumbers and cantaloupe and blend until smooth. Add the rest of the almond milk, the agave nectar or honey and at least a cup of ice, but I usually use 2 or 3 cups of ice. It extends the smoothies and it still tastes great.
- Serve!
Oh I’d pick this over the salad! It looks amazing! And you presented it beautifully!
I love a good drink and this sweet basil cucumber melon smoothie is perfect for our #SundaySupper ~ thanks for sharing!
I love the flavors you used in this! Very unique but it sounds great!
Cucumber is one of the most cooling veggies. Never thought to use it in a smoothie and this one looks delish ! Have some cukes, maybe make some today ! Thanks for sharing and am linking this to ” smoothie central”
A different kind of smoothie rather than the typical fruity ones. Nice use of fresh summer produce and herbs.
Well, you certainly came up with a wonderful, refreshing smoothie! So perfect for summer. Love the combination of flavors!
Oh I’d pick this over the salad! It looks amazing! And you presented it beautifully!
I’m absolutely loving this marriage of flavors! Can’t wait to give this a try! Happy #SundaySupper 🙂
I love a good drink and this sweet basil cucumber melon smoothie is perfect for our #SundaySupper ~ thanks for sharing!
This looks so so delicious and refreshing!love the melon and cucumber combo!Have to try it for sure 🙂
What a perfectly cooling combination – just looking at it makes me feel cooler. I, too, am always thirsty in this insane heat!
I have never heard of a cucumber smoothie – now here’s a first! Sounds cool and refreshing!
I have all of the ingredients on hand and I’m going to make this for lunch right now! Agree with you that there’s nothing like cucumber for beating the heat.
YUMMY I could drink this all up right now momma!! I have to give it a shot!! 🙂
This may be better than cucumber salad. 😉 Love you sweet friend! Thanks for participating this week!
What a perfect #BeatTheHeat recipe! This sounds so refreshing!
This sounds so refreshing!
This sounds so nice and lite, cool and refreshing. Cucumber and canteloupe lovely combination.
YUM, Nicole! This sounds delicious! Love the cucumber melon combo.
Cucumber was definitely the theme of the week! Sounds delightful!
Jamie @ http://www.mamamommymom.com.
Cucumber smoothie does sound refreshing! Thanks for sharing!
I must try this. I bet the basil with cucumber is amazing. I love sweet basil.
Love this photography, and that looks like a great drink! I need one of those about now. 😉
I love the flavor combination of this smoothie! Look at that darling mint green straw. So cute.
#SundaySupper to me is enjoying the company of family and friends, winding down the week with lots of food and drink. I love to cook large meals. Looks so scrumptious. Cindy Brickley at cjbrick@ymail.com See ya at 7:00
#SundaySupper to me is enjoying the company of family and friends, winding down the week with lots of food and drink. I love to cook large meals. Looks so scrumptious. Cindy Brickley at cjbrick@ymail.com See ya at 7:00.
I love a good drink and this sweet basil cucumber melon smoothie is perfect for our #SundaySupper ~ thanks for sharing!
Oh I’d pick this over the salad! It looks amazing! And you presented it beautifully!