spiralized melon salad

The OXO Good Grips Handheld Spiralizer turns a simple summer melon salad into a special treat that’s just as fun to make as it is to eat!

Although we’re no longer confined to the tiny kitchens of our previous San Francisco housing, I still find it incredibly difficult to take up precious kitchen real estate with single function gadgets. I had been eyeing spiralizers for years but never gave in to their charm due to their relatively large footprint. Enter the OXO Good Grips Handheld Spiralizer. Yes, it’s single function, but it’s so cute! I was skeptical, but after one use I’m completely smitten with this little gadget.

My biggest fear with the handheld spiralizer was that it would be difficult to use given it’s small size and perceived lack of “oomph,” for lack of a better term. One turn of the ergonomic handle and I was sold. The blades cut like butter and the prongs of the hand guard actually got a great grip of the fruit making it easy to turn.

Unlike most handheld tools, I had no desire to ditch the hand guard and hold it myself which is stellar news for my fingertips. If you look closely, you can actually see the discoloration in my middle finger where I’ve lost a fraction of my fingerprint from a run in with a mandolin. If you make poor choices in the kitchen, like myself, I highly recommend a pair of Cut Resistant Gloves.

This fruit salad is simple. I feel silly sharing a recipe, but you can learn from some trial and error on my part. The easiest way to spiralize melon is to cut two-inch squares and lay them down flat in the spiralizer. This gives a nice flat surface for the hand guard to grip and plenty of surface area to yield long beautiful spirals. For best results, place the interior softer side of the melon face down on the blades so that the hand guard can get a good grip on the firmer side that was closest to the skin.

Fruit salads are served with a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk if I have anything to do with them. A honey dipper is perfect for even drizzling over your gorgeous melon spirals. This Spiralized Melon Salad is fancy enough for a light dessert, quick enough for a fun afternoon snack, and couldn’t be any easier thanks to the OXO Good Grips Handheld Spiralizer.