Watermelon Agua Fresca for Warm Days
On the hottest days, watermelon agua fresca is one of the easiest ways to get something cold, bright, and not too heavy into a glass.
Equipment
- Blender
- Fine-mesh sieve
- Large bowl or pitcher
- Spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 800 g seedless watermelon cut in cubes (about 6 cups; from roughly 1/4 of a medium melon)
- 720 ml cold water divided, plus more to taste
- 60 ml freshly squeezed lime juice about 2 medium limes
- 30–50 g granulated sugar to taste (2–4 tbsp)
- 1 pinch fine sea salt
- ice cubes for serving
- lime wedges optional garnish
- fresh mint leaves optional garnish
Instructions
- Chill what you can. If you have time, chill the watermelon cubes, water, and serving glasses in the refrigerator for 30–60 minutes. This helps you use less ice later, which keeps the flavor stronger.
- Blend the first batch. Add about half of the watermelon cubes to a blender along with 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) of the cold water, all of the lime juice, 2 tbsp (30 g) of sugar, and a small pinch of salt. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 30–45 seconds.
- Taste before you commit. Pour a splash of the blended mixture into a glass with a couple of ice cubes and taste. Adjust with more sugar for sweetness, more lime for tartness, or a little extra water if it’s thicker or sweeter than you like.
- Blend the rest. Return the test splash to the blender jar if you removed a lot. Add the remaining watermelon and another 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) cold water, then blend again until smooth. If your blender is small, work in two full batches using the same proportions.
- Strain for a smoother drink (optional but recommended). Set a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl or pitcher. Pour the blended watermelon mixture through the sieve, using a spoon or spatula to stir and press so the liquid passes through. Discard the pulpy solids if you prefer a lighter texture, or keep a bit if you like more body.
- Chill, then adjust again. Refrigerate the strained agua fresca for at least 30 minutes if possible; cold temperatures slightly mute sweetness and acidity. Taste once it’s cold and make final small adjustments to lime or sugar as needed, stirring well to dissolve.
- Prepare the glasses. Fill each glass halfway to three-quarters full with ice. If you like a little flair, lightly rub a lime wedge around the rim and dip in a shallow plate of sugar or chili-lime seasoning before adding the ice.
- Serve. Give the pitcher a good stir so nothing settles. Pour the watermelon agua fresca over the ice, garnish with lime wedges and a couple of mint leaves, and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 1gFat: 0.2gSodium: 35mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 800IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 0.4mg
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