Literally agua fresca is just Spanish for “fresh water,” and truly an obsession.
I’ve always enjoyed aguas frescas, but I originally wrote this in Kansas and I didn’t have a mercado in my town. But I know how to improvise in the kitchen! I was craving watermelon, so I bought a seedless watermelon, a couple of limes, then added the salt and water at home.
Salt?! Yep. Most agua fresca recipes call for sugar, agave, or honey – well, watermelon has plenty of natural sugars and a pinch of salt simply brings out natural flavors. I make this drink to enjoy the taste of watermelon, not to give myself diabetes, so I recommend salt. Regardless, watermelon is an excellent source of lycopene, electrolytes, and antioxidants. Drink up!
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I’m keeping this post nice and short so you can quickly add this to your grocery list and make it ASAP. It’s a refreshing drink that doesn’t require a long preamble. Enjoy!
Ingredients
1-2 seedless watermelons, cubed
1-3 cups water
2-4 large limes, juiced
Pinch of salt
Optional: Grapefruit, juiced
Optional: Jalapeño, seeded
Directions
1. Cut away watermelon rind, dice the flesh into rough cubes
2. Place watermelon cubes in blender
3. When blender pitcher is full, add 1 cup water
4. Cover and blend until liquid
5. Strain into clean pitcher
6. Add juice of 1-2 limes (depending on your taste)
7. Add pinch of salt
8. Repeat steps 1-7 until you are out of watermelon, or until your pitcher is full
9. Serve chilled, or on ice
10. Enjoy & share
If you love citrus like I do, feel free to substitute the limes for a grapefruit – or use both. I prefer two limes per blender of watermelon, then finish with one grapefruit to complete the batch. Want a little heat? Use chili salt, or blend in a seeded jalapeño or serrano pepper. The possibilities are endless, and sure to be refreshing. Also, this juice is an excellent mixer for tequila, gin, or vodka.
Photographed above: Reusable shopping bags, Santoku blade
Photographed above: Ninja blender
Photographed above: Rubbermaid pitcher, canning funnel, reusable strainers, and a Govino shatterproof cup.
In the summer I like making a batch each week, and pacing myself so I don’t drink all three liters in one day. I hope you find this as refreshing as I do!
