Persian Cantaloupe Drink

Photo: Heami Lee • Food Styling: Jessie YuChen. Photo: Heami Lee • Food Styling: Jessie YuChen

SAVEUR contributing editor Farideh Sadeghin got the recipe for this refreshing melon drink from her Iranian-born father, who makes it by grating fresh cantaloupe and combining it with water, sugar, and mint. You can also add a little gin for a cooling summer cocktail .

Featured in “ Chasing the Perfect Persian Rice .”

Yield: 6 cups Time: 5 minutes

• 1 cantaloupe (about 3 lb.)
• ¼ cup sugar, plus more to taste
• Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

1. Peel the cantaloupe, then halve it and scoop out and discard the seeds. Cut each cantaloupe half into two pieces and coarsely grate them into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar and 3½ cups of water, then taste and add more sugar if necessary. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.
2. Serve in cups over ice, garnished with mint.