The kiwano or horned melon, originally from Africa, is now appearing in US grocery stores. It has a green, jelly-like interior with a mild taste resembling cucumber, banana, and lime. The seeds can be challenging to remove, but the tough rinds can be used as bowls or for decoration.
If you’re in the produce section of your grocery store and happen to glance at a prickly fruit, made from oranges, it might be hard to avoid your gaze. This is the kiwano or horned melon, which was first grown in Africa and is now starting to appear in grocery stores across the United States. You’ll probably either love or hate this fruit, if you’re brave enough to try it.
The fruit is about the same size as a medium papaya and is slightly oval in shape, not counting the spikes or horns. It can’t be peeled, so you’ll need to at least halve the horned melon to get a look inside. A big surprise awaits you when you open this melon. Instead of having a similar color to its exterior, the interior flesh is a deep, almost daytime green. The fruit is studded with seeds, which can be a bit difficult to remove.
As for the taste, people have said that it resembles a cucumber, banana, and lime mixed together. Many don’t mind the taste, but don’t like the texture. It’s a bit gelatinous or jelly-like for fans, but those who don’t mind horned melon may call it gross and slimy instead. How much you like it really depends on your texture tolerance. The taste is quite mild and inoffensive.
One way to eat it that seems to work well is to halve the melon and then cut it into “orange wedge” slices. You can use a spoon to scoop out the contents of each wedge. Some call the taste of cucumber very refreshing and have suggested smoothies made with a mix of horned melon and other ingredients. Liquefying the fruit would help reduce the negatives related to its texture, especially when blended with other ingredients. Collecting the seeds is cited as the biggest challenge, since there are so many of them. Some simply eat the seeds with the fruit.
An interesting application of horned melon is using the tough rinds as bowls, after hollowing out the flesh. You could fill them with fruit salad, kiwano and lime custard or horned melon sorbet. Some people like the look of the fruit and use them for decorative purposes only. They somewhat resemble a prehistoric animal with no legs, and their bright orange rind is attractive. They can go a long time without refrigeration and can be used in decorations the same way pumpkins are used, although they won’t last as long as gourds.
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