Thursday, July 29, 2010

Watermelon Lemonade Agua Fresca

Traditionally, agua fresca ("fresh water") is a popular summer drink from Mexico that's basically water infused with fruit essence, giving the drink a light and refreshing feel. I absolutely LOVE agua fresca, especially during the hot days of summer. I was making a batch with a mini seedless watermelon, when I thought of the idea of adding a few splashes of lemonade to the mix! The result was a sweet 'n' sour hybrid of watermelon and lemonade that just danced on my taste buds!  

 My watermelon-lemonade agua fresca likes to chill out
in the herb garden!

I kinda threw this together, so the measurements aren't all that precise...feel free to play around yourself to create the perfect balance of tangy and sweet! 

Ingredients:

1 mini seedless watermelon, chopped into small pieces
1/2 cup water*
1 1/2 cup lemonade* (I used Trader Joe's Low Calorie Lemonade to make sure the drink wasn't too sugary)
3 - 5 Ice cubes

*These are approximations...I wasn't measuring when I made this so play around with the amounts until you get the right consistency.  It shouldn't be smoothie-thick, but it should be a bit thicker than the consistency of water.

Directions:

Cut watermelon flesh from the rind and chop into small pieces. In a blender, process half of the watermelon with half of the water and lemonade (you can also omit the water completely and just use lemonade) plus a few ice cubes until smooth. Pour through a strainer into a pitcher. Now do the same with the remaining watermelon, lemonade, water and a few ice cubes. Serve immediately or stick in the fridge to chill. If you are feeling fancy, you can even garnish it with some mint leaves when serving!

Be warned, if you stick it in the fridge to chill the lemonade and watermelon have a tendency to separate, so give it a nice stir before serving!

The result is the perfect refreshing drink for a sweltering summer day (like today)!

Enjoy!

4 comments:

  1. Sounds devine! Definately giving this a try. Thanks so much for the receipe!

    Cheers!

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  2. Ooh sounds yummy! I LOVE me some watermelon. It is the perfect fruit in so many ways and a cold during the hot summer time is the best thing ever!

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