Round these parts of France, melons are THE fruit of Summer. Lectoure, just 25 minutes down the road from me, is famous for growing them. The soil and climate here are perfect for the Charentais melon, my favourite type. It has the sweet, juicy, fragrant orange flesh which explodes in your mouth with mind blowing flavour.

They are literally sold everywhere during the months of July and August when they are in season. You can pick them up for as cheap as 1 Euro each. They sell them at all the markets and pop up stalls even appear at the side of the roads or in laybys off round-abouts. Melon mayhem reigns….

So plentiful are they that we have them for breakfast in our house. My daughter would eat a whole one to herself at every meal of the day if she could. Simply paired with torn up Bayonne ham and strewn with shredded mint, they are always guaranteed to bring you utter feasting joy.

I also enjoy them blitzed up with a little lime juice and a dash of Floc de Gascogne (a local aperitif similar to port) and a pinch of sugar. Chilled and served in shot glasses, it makes an elegant and delicious amuse bouche.

But that is about it. For me, melons are a simple thing, not something I would normally mess around with too much. Until I recently came across a recipe for Tarte Au Melon in Pierre Koffmann’s ‘Memories Of Gascony’.

Pierre Koffmannis a total legend. He was born in SW France and spent much of his childhood in Saint Puy, the village my mother lives in, just 5 minutes from my house. It was the food from this region, cooked by his Grandparents, that influenced him and helped to build him into the 3 michelin starred chef that he is today.

His philosophy of following the traditions of the peasant cooking from these parts is one that I completely subscribe to. His book is a wonderful journey through his childhood memories and culinary influences. I cannot praise it highly enough.

Anyway, the idea of making a tart out of melons was one I had not contemplated. I guess I was worried they might be too juicy for the pastry. But I knew I had to try it as soon I as I saw it. And it did not disappoint! The pastry remained crisp whilst the melon burst in my mouth with sweet juiciness. A stunning Summer tart that I shall be making regularly.

Tarte Au Melon (Melon Tart)

(Recipe loosely tinkered with from Memories Of Gascony by Pierre Koffmann)

(Serves 8 )

1 shortcrust pastry
1 large charentais melon
200g sugar
1 tbsp Floc de Gaogne (optional, could use Pineau des Charentes or Port)
5 eggs
25g cornflour
250ml milk
4 tbsp creme fraiche

Heat your oven to 220C/200C Fan. Lightly butter a tart case, lay on your pastry and trim to fit. Line with baking paper and pour in baking beans. Blind bake for 15 minutes.

Prepare your melon. Cut it into quarters and scoop out the seeds using a spoon. Then slice each quarter into 5 or 6 long slices and then carefully take off the skin.

Make a syrup by melting 75g of the sugar with 2 tablespoons of water. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the Floc or other alcohol if using. Add your melon and coat with the syrup and let them cook for 1 minute. Remove the melon (reserving the syrup) and pat dry with some kitchen towel.

Once the pastry case has been blind baked, remove the baking beans and baking paper and arrange your melon slices in the tart case.

Prepare the filling by whisking together the eggs, corn flour and 75g of the sugar. Then mix in the milk and pour over the melon slices. Bake for 30 minutes.

Then remove from the oven and sprinkle over the last 50g of sugar and then put the tart under a hot grill for 8-10 minutes until the sugar has caramelised.

Finally, pour most of your poaching liquid onto your creme fraiche and mix it up. Once the tart has cooled completely, serve in slices with a large dollop of the flavoured creme fraiche.

And I just thought I would also share another little melon recipe with you whilst I have you here. This one is for Watermelon. I really think it’s amazing that you can now buy seedless watermelons! It makes all the difference.

Cool watermelon chopped up, is one of the most refreshing things I can think of to have on a hot day. But have you ever thought of popping it on the BBQ? Well thats what I did and then I served it with a creamy spoonful of yoghurt, some toasted pine nuts and a drizzle of honey. It was heavenly. If you can BBQ a pineapple, then why the hell not a watermelon! (Please excuse the photos, they were taken rather later at night than I had intended!)

Barbecued Watermelon with Yoghurt, Pine Nuts & Honey

(Serves 4 generously)

1/2 watermelon
icing sugar to dust
yoghurt to serve
a handful of toasted pine nuts
a drizzle of honey

Cut your watermelon into slices and then chunks…squares or triangles, whichever you like. Aim for 2 chunks per person. Put them in a bowl and liberally dust them with icing sugar.

Then place them on a plancha style BBQ or foil BBQ tray and cook for 3-4 minutes each side, until the icing sugar has glazed the fruit nicely.

Serve with a generous spoonful of yoghurt, pine nuts sprinkled over and finish with a drizzle of honey. A little wacky, but definitely yummy!

If you are interested in finding out about all the brilliant food blogging challenges that are being held every month, you should hop over to Tinned Tomatoes where Jacqueline runs a ‘The Food Blog Diary‘. You can keep up to date with all the events and themes there, it’s a great resource!

I am entering these melon recipes into this months Four Seasons Food Challenge (hosted by me this month here) for which the theme is Summer Puds so these two certainly apply.

Four Seasons Food hosted by Delicieux and Chezfoti