Fruit Basket Garnishes

Fruits like watermelons and pineapples are delicious to taste, but awkward to carry. They're hard to open, but the fruit inside is always worth the effort.

Try It!
Here are some recipes from our collection to use with garnishes:

    We have some ideas to help you use the entire watermelon or pineapple. Fruit basket garnishes not only look great and add to the atmosphere, but they also can hold a lot of fruit or salad, as well.

    Watermelon Bowl

    A watermelon bowl filled with chicken salad makes an eye-catching centerpiece for an elegant backyard buffet.

    To make a watermelon bowl garnish:
    1. Place watermelon on its side on cutting board. Cut a thin piece off bottom of melon with chef's knife to create flat surface.

      Cut a thin piece of the bottom of watermelon.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Cut a thin piece of the bottom of watermelon.

    2. Cut off top one-third of watermelon; reserve fruit for snacking.

    3. Set watermelon upright on its flat surface. Remove pulp from watermelon using long-handled spoon, leaving shell intact.

      Remove pulp with long-handled spoon.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Remove pulp with long-handled spoon.

    4. To scallop edge of watermelon bowl, place open end of drinking glass against melon so top edge of glass is aligned with top edge of bowl. Draw a pencil line around glass edge to form scallop shape. Repeat around entire edge of watermelon.

      Draw a pencil line around the watermelon using a glass edge.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Draw a pencil line around the
      watermelon using a glass edge.

    5. Carefully cut along pencil lines with utility knife to form scalloped edge; fill bowl as desired.

      Cut along pencil lines to make a watermelon basket garnish.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Cut along pencil lines.

    6. Garnish.

      Garnish watermelon bowl.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Garnish watermelon bowl.

    Watermelon Basket

    Line a watermelon basket with plastic wrap: use to hold muffins or rolls.

    To make a watermelon basket garnish:
    1. Place watermelon on its side on cutting board. Cut a thin piece off bottom of melon with chef's knife to create flat surface. Stand watermelon on the flat surface.

      Cut off a thin piece of melon bottom.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Cut off a thin piece of melon bottom.

    2. To make basket handle, start slightly off center of middle of melon and draw a pencil line crosswise about one-half of the way down side of watermelon. Draw another line parallel to first to form strip about 2 inches wide.

      Draw a line down the side of the watermelon.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Draw a line down the side of the melon.

    3. Turn watermelon around; repeat pencil lines for other half of handle. Draw pencil line horizontally around melon to make guideline for top of basket.

    4. Cut along pencil lines of handle, being careful to cut only to horizontal pencil line indicating top of basket.

      Carefully cut along pencil lines when making a watermelon basket.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Carefully cut along pencil lines.

    5. On one side of handle, cut along pencil line for top of basket, being sure to insert knife into watermelon pulp as far as possible. Carefully remove watermelon as piece is loosened.

      Remove watermelon piece.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Remove watermelon piece.

    6. Set removed fruit aside for snacking or another use. Repeat cutting on other side. Trim away pulp from under handle with utility knife.

      Garnish with Watermelon Basket.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Garnish with Watermelon Basket.

    7. Remove pulp from inside of watermelon with long-handled spoon, leaving shell intact. Fill as desired.

      Tip!
      Scallop top edge of basket, if desired. Place open end of drinking glass against melon so top edge of glass is aligned with top edge of basket. Draw a pencil line around glass edge to form scallop shape. Repeat around entire watermelon. Carefully cut along pencil lines with utility knife to form scalloped edge.

    Pineapple Boats

    Pineapple boats give any table a charming tropical feel.

    To make pineapple boat garnishes:
    1. Cut pineapple in half lengthwise through crown.

      Cut pineapple in half when making pineapple boats.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Cut pineapple in half.

    2. Remove fruit from shells with curved knife, leaving shells intact.

      Remove fruit from shell.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Remove fruit from shell.

    3. Remove the core from each pineapple half; discard core.

      Remove core from pineapple when making pineapple boats.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Remove core from pineapple.

    4. Coarsely chop pineapple; place chunks in pineapple boats to serve. Add other fruits, if desired.

      Chop pineapple pieces.
      ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
      Chop pineapple pieces.

    Similar to pineapple boats, dairy garnishes such as egg chickens, are charming and fun. We'll show you how to make them in the next section.