Frozen honeydew–lemon verbena slush

Moon Garden

162 minutes total · Easy · Makes 2

Frozen honeydew and fragrant lemon verbena blend into a pale-jade, spoon-soft slush with fresh lime and a clean, cooling finish.

12 minutes to mix150 minutes to chill2 finished drinks

What you’ll need

3/4 cup boiling water
2 teaspoons pure dried lemon verbena leaves or 2 caffeine-free lemon verbena tea bags
2 1/4 cups ripe honeydew melon balls or cubes, divided
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 1/2 tablespoons pure agave syrup
1 small pinch fine sea salt
1 1/2 cups plain ice cubes
2 fresh lemon verbena leaves, for garnish

Pour the boiling water over the dried lemon verbena or tea bags. Cover and steep for 10 minutes, then strain and cool completely in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Reserve six neat honeydew balls for garnish. Spread the remaining melon in a single layer on a parchment-lined tray and freeze for about 2 hours, until firm but not rock-hard.
Chill two footed goblets in the freezer for the final 20 minutes of the melon-freezing time.
Add the frozen honeydew, 1/2 cup cold verbena tea, lime juice, agave syrup, sea salt and ice to a high-speed blender.
Blend on low, then high, using the tamper if available, until evenly slushy and spoon-soft. Add the remaining verbena tea 1 tablespoon at a time only if needed to keep the blades moving.
Taste immediately and add up to 1 teaspoon more lime juice if the melon is especially sweet. Blend for 5 seconds to combine.

The glass, temperature and first aroma all shape the drink. Set those details before the final pour.

Use two thoroughly chilled, clear footed goblets; do not add loose ice because it will dilute the frozen texture.
Divide the slush between the cold glasses and mound it just above the rim with the back of a spoon.
Thread three reserved honeydew balls onto each reusable cocktail pick and add one fresh lemon verbena leaf. Rest each pick across the rim without pressing it into the drink.
Serve at once, very cold, with a small spoon or short reusable straw. The texture is best within five minutes of blending.

At the table

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Estimated per drink

Estimated per drink; honeydew contributes vitamin C while keeping the finished slush naturally light.

Estimates vary with ingredient brands, substitutions and serving size.