Emerald Honeydew Kiwi Mint Smoothie Cooler with Whipped Cream

A glass of honeydew and kiwi, blended pale green and finished with a tall cloud of cream, is the kind of drink that makes a warm afternoon feel slower. Cubed melon, sliced kiwi and fresh mint come together in a blender in minutes, with a little grated white chocolate for body and sweetness. The result is cool, creamy and easy to make for two.

This smoothie cooler is built on the simplest possible method: cut the fruit, grate the chocolate, blend everything until smooth, pour into tall glasses and crown with whipped cream.

The honeydew gives the drink its mild, almost floral sweetness and its pale colour, while the kiwi adds a bright, tart edge and the green flecks that show through the glass.

Fresh mint lifts the whole blend and keeps the flavour clean rather than heavy. Because nothing needs to be cooked, the work is mostly knife work and a few minutes at the blender. The steps below follow the order you would use in a home kitchen, so you can prepare the fruit and cream first and blend just before serving.

Ingredients

Why this recipe works

The honeydew carries most of the volume and the sweetness, so the smoothie tastes like ripe melon rather than sharp fruit. Cutting it into cubes before blending helps the blender break it down quickly and evenly, which is what gives the drink its smooth, pale green body without any need for ice or thickeners.

Grated white chocolate melts into the cold blend and adds a soft, creamy sweetness that rounds out the acidity of the kiwi. Grating it finely matters: fine shavings disperse in seconds, while large pieces can leave small specks in the finished drink. The mint is added with the fruit so its oils are released into the liquid rather than floating on top.

Notes and substitutions

Choose a honeydew that smells sweet at the stem end and gives slightly when pressed, and pick green kiwi fruit that yields to gentle pressure.

Fruit that is too firm will taste sour and blend unevenly, while overripe kiwi can make the drink taste flat. Chill the honeydew before you start if you can, because cold fruit produces a thicker, more refreshing cooler without diluting it.

You need a sharp chef's knife, a sturdy cutting board, a fine grater for the chocolate, a blender with a glass jar and tall glasses. A piping bag fitted with a star tip gives the most attractive peak of cream, but a spoon works if you want a rustic finish.

If you prefer a sweeter drink, a little honey or a pinch of vanilla can stand in for part of the white chocolate, which keeps the same creamy texture.

• white chocolate: A pinch of vanilla extract and a little honey for a sweeter, creamier smoothie
• heavy cream, whipped: Store-bought whipped topping in the same amount

Equipment

• Chef's knife
• Wooden cutting board
• Fine grater
• Blender
• Tall glasses
• Piping bag with a star tip