Watermelon Agua Fresca

I’m from El Paso, Texas and proud of it. Because El Paso has amazing Mexican cuisine, I’ve basked in the delights of agua frescas since I was a young queen. Now that she is a slightly older queen, she knows that watermelon agua fresca is surprisingly easy to make and fabulous to share with friends.

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Recipe Type: Quick and Easy

Tag: Beverage/Cocktail

Time: 15 minutes

Servings: ½ gallon or more depending on watermelon size

From Le Summer Produce Party menu

Ingredients

1 small seedless baby watermelon or half a regular sized large seedless watermelon

2-3 limes

2 cups or so of water

1 - 2 tablespoons of honey or sugar (optional)

Tequila or mezcal (optional)

Kosher salt (optional)

Equipment

Blender or immersion blender

Large sieve 

Large mixing bowl

½ gallon jar or pitcher to store agua fresca

Wooden spoon or silicone spatula

Instructions

  1. Peel and cut watermelon into 3 or 4 inch cubes. If you’re using a larger watermelon reserve the other half for eating later in the fridge. 

  2. Blend the cubed watermelon (or whatever fits in your blender) with water in batches until liquified. After each batch is blended, strain the watermelon puree in a large sieve placed over a large mixing bowl. 

  3. Nudge the straining process by strain by scraping the puree around the sieve with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula. This is the hardest part of the recipe...patience. If you’re using an immersion blender - blend everything at once in a large bowl and strain.  

  4. Add the juice of one lime to the strained watermelon juice.

  5. Taste the juice. If you want it to be sweeter take 1 cup of watermelon juice and 1 tablespoon of honey and in a rinsed out blender, blend to incorporate. Return the sweetened cup of watermelon juice to the unsweetened batch and stir. Taste and repeat to add more sweetness.  If you want the juice to have more dimension and acid, add more lime juice.

Voila — you’ve made watermelon agua fresca! The juice should keep up to 4-5 days in your fridge

How to Serve

Enjoy as is with a lime wedge or in a salt rimmed glass with a splash of tequila or mezcal.