Moroccan cuisine · Salads & Mezze

Chlada Fakya bel Khiar

A cool salad of cucumber cubes and melon balls, perfumed with orange blossom water, cinnamon and mint.

Ingredients · for 4 servings

• 2 cucumbers
• 1/2 honeydew melon
• 2 tbsp orange blossom water
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 lemon
• 1/2 bunch mint
• 1 pinch salt

Instructions

1. Peel the cucumbers, halve lengthwise and scrape out the watery seeds with a spoon, then cut into 1 cm cubes.
2. Toss the cucumber cubes with a pinch of salt, let sit in a sieve for 10 min, and discard the liquid that drains off.
3. Seed the melon and scoop into balls or cut into cubes the same size as the cucumber.
4. Stir the orange blossom water with the juice of half a lemon, the sugar and a pinch of salt until the sugar dissolves.
5. Gently toss the cucumber and melon with the marinade and chill covered for at least 30 min so the flavors meld.
6. Just before serving, dust with the cinnamon, sprinkle with finely cut mint, and serve ice-cold as a refreshing mezze.