Traditional Azerbaijan Melon & Banana Meringues with Creamy Melon Coffee

These airy, fruit-infused meringues pair perfectly with a unique village-style coffee brewed directly inside a fresh melon for a delicately sweet flavor profile.

Servings 6 persons Difficulty Medium desserts fruit sweets 60 Minutes (plus 2 hours drying time)

Products used in this recipe

Important Disclaimer: The original video shows large-scale traditional cooking without precise measurements. The quantities below are estimations adapted for a smaller, home-friendly batch and might need adjustment. They are inspired by the video but are not exact conversions. Feel free to adjust ingredients like sugar or ghee to your personal preference.

Ingredients

📌 Ingredients for Melon & Banana Meringues You Can Make Yourself:

🍈 500 g Sweet Melon (peeled and deseeded)
🍌 2 Ripe Bananas
🍯 150 g Granulated Sugar
🍯 2 tbsp Honey
🍯 1 tbsp Powdered Sugar (for dusting)
🥚 5 Egg Whites (at room temperature)
🥣 30 g Cornstarch
💧 100 ml Water
🧂 1 pinch Salt

Instructions

👩🏻‍🍳 Preparation Steps for Melon & Banana Meringues:

1. Finely mince the melon and bananas using a grinder or food processor until you achieve a smooth, consistent pulp.
2. Transfer the fruit pulp to a heavy-bottomed pot and stir in the granulated sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture reduces and thickens into a jam-like consistency.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Gradually pour the slurry and honey into the boiling fruit mixture.
4. Continue to cook the fruit base for another 5–8 minutes while stirring constantly until it becomes very thick and translucent. Remove from heat and allow it to cool completely.
5. In a large, clean glass bowl, add a pinch of salt to the egg whites. Whip using a whisk or electric mixer until stiff, glossy peaks form.
6. Gently fold the cooled fruit base into the whipped egg whites using a spatula. Do this slowly to ensure you don't deflate the air in the meringue.
7. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. Pipe small, decorative mounds onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 100°C for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the meringues are dry to the touch and easily peel off the paper.
9. Once cooled, dust lightly with powdered sugar before serving.

Ingredients 2

📌 Ingredients for Creamy Village Coffee in Melon You Can Make Yourself:

🍈 1/2 Small Sweet Melon (hollowed out to act as a cup)
🍖 3 tbsp Freshly Ground Coffee Beans
🥛 300 ml Whole Milk
💧 150 ml Water
🍯 1 tbsp Honey (optional)

Instructions 2

👩🏻‍🍳 Preparation Steps for Creamy Village Coffee in Melon:

1. Freshly grind your coffee beans to a fine consistency.
2. In a small cezve or pot, combine the ground coffee, water, and milk.
3. Place the pot over a low flame and bring to a slow simmer, allowing the coffee to foam up without reaching a rolling boil.
4. Hollow out a small melon half, removing all seeds and a bit of the flesh to create a stable "bowl."
5. Pour the hot, creamy coffee directly into the hollowed melon.
6. Stir in honey if desired and allow the coffee to sit for 1 minute so the melon's aroma infuses into the drink.
7. Enjoy the coffee warm, using the melon as your serving vessel.

Watch the recipe video