Watermelon Agua Fresca

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Watermelon agua fresca is a wonderfully refreshing drink, perfect for a hot day! It’s essentially “fresh water” infused with the pure essence of ripe fruit, and it’s incredibly simple to make.

Here’s a refreshing and super easy Watermelon Agua Fresca (Agua de Sandía) recipe — a perfect Mexican summer drink! 🍉

Watermelon Agua Fresca
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Watermelon Agua Fresca

Servings

4

servings
Cooking time

20

minutes

Ingredients

  • 4-6 cups cubed seedless watermelon (the riper and sweeter, the better!)

  • ½ cup water (or more, to adjust consistency)

  • 1/2 cup mint leaves

  • 2-4 tablespoons fresh lime juice (to taste, adjust for tartness)

  • 2-4 tablespoons sugar, honey, or agave (optional, depending on the sweetness of your watermelon and your preference)

  • Ice

  • Optional garnishes: fresh mint sprigs, lime wedges, small watermelon cubes

Directions

  • Place the cubed watermelon, mint and ½ cup of water in a blender. Blend until completely smooth.
  • Strain for a smoother, pulp-free drink, pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large pitcher. Use a spoon or spatula to press down on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the pulp.
  • Stir in the lime juice. Taste the mixture. If your watermelon isn’t very sweet, or if you prefer a sweeter drink, add sugar, honey, or agave a tablespoon at a time, stirring until dissolved, until it reaches your desired sweetness.
  • Refrigerate the agua fresca for at least 30 minutes, or until thoroughly chilled.
  • Fill glasses with ice. Pour the watermelon agua fresca over the ice. Garnish with fresh mint or lime wedges if desired.

Notes

  • Choose a ripe watermelon: This is key! A ripe watermelon will be heavy for its size, have a dull sheen (not shiny), and often have a large yellow spot on one side where it rested on the ground to ripen. When you tap it, you should hear a deep, hollow sound.
  • Adjust to taste: Agua fresca is all about personal preference. Start with the suggested amounts of lime juice and sweetener, then adjust based on how sweet your watermelon is and how tart or sweet you like your drink.
  • Don’t overdo the water: You want the flavor of the watermelon to shine, so don’t add too much water initially. You can always add more later if you want a thinner consistency or to “stretch” the drink.
  • Get creative with additions: Herbs: Mint is a classic pairing, but basil or even a hint of ginger can be delicious. You can muddle herbs in the bottom of your glass or blend a small amount with the watermelon.
  • Sparkling water: For a fizzy twist, top off your glass with sparkling water instead of still water.
  • Alcohol: For an adult beverage, add a shot of rum, vodka, or tequila.
  • Other fruits: While this is a watermelon agua fresca, you can experiment with adding small amounts of other fruits like a few raspberries or a slice of pineapple
 

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