Ingredients
- 6 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
- 4 cups cold water
- Up to 1/2 cup granulated sugar (see note)
- Juice from 1 lime, optional
Note: Watermelons vary in natural sweetness, so start with less sugar and add gradually while tasting to avoid over-sweetening.
Blend the Watermelon
Add the watermelon cubes and 2 cups of water to your blender.
Blend on high for ~2 minutes until completely smooth. You’ll see it go from chunky to liquid pink.
Strain (Or Don’t)
If you like it pulpy, skip this step – I usually do.
For a cleaner drink, pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher. Press the pulp with a spoon to get all the liquid out.
Mix and Sweeten
Add the remaining 2 cups of cold water and stir.
Now taste – this is where it gets tricky. Some watermelons are candy-sweet, others taste like crunchy water.
Start with 2 tablespoons of sugar, stir until dissolved, then taste. Keep adding sugar a tablespoon at a time until it tastes right. I usually end up using ~1/4 cup, but I’ve had watermelons that needed none.
Add Lime and Serve
If using lime juice, squeeze it in now. It brightens everything up and cuts through the sweetness.
Pour over lots of ice in tall glasses. This doesn’t keep well – the watermelon separates after a day or so – but it never lasts that long anyway.
Makes enough for 4-6 glasses, depending on how thirsty you are.
Watermelon Aqua Fresca
Ingredients
- 6 cups seedless watermelon cubed
- 4 cups cold water
- Up to 1/2 cup granulated sugar see note
- Juice from 1 lime optional
Instructions
- Blend watermelon cubes with 2 cups water until completely smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Optional: strain through fine-mesh strainer into pitcher.
- Stir in remaining 2 cups cold water.
- Add sugar gradually, starting with 2 tablespoons, until desired sweetness.
- Add fresh lime juice if using.
- Serve immediately over ice.
- Makes 4-6 servings. Best consumed same day.
