Chilled watermelon agua fresca, sweetened with a homemade mint simple syrup
Agua fresca is a light fruit drink that blends together fresh fruit with a bit of sugar and lime juice. In this recipe, we're taking it up a notch with a homemade mint simple syrup that adds a lovely, herbaceous element.
Blend up a large pitcher for a summer party or an evening dinner party. Agua Fresca can be made with all types of fruit, and this recipe would also work well with cantaloupe or honeydew. If you want to skip the mint simple syrup that is fine too, it is still a lovely drink to serve on a warm summer day!
Ingredients - Serves 4
Mint Simple Syrup (makes 1 cup):
1 C mint leaves
1 C sugar
1 C water
Agua Fresca:
4 cups cubed watermelon
2 cups water
2 oz mint simple syrup or agave
3 oz lime juice (about the juice of three whole limes)
Optional: Salt rim and garnish with lime wedge, watermelon slice, or mint leaves
Instructions
Mint simple syrup: place mint leaves, sugar and water in a saucepan. Simmer gently and stir until all sugar dissolves, just a couple minutes. Let seep and cool for 30min. Strain mint leaves out and store syrup in an air-tight jar.
Place watermelon, half of your water (1C), mint simple syrup, lime juice into a blender. Blend until smooth.
Strain out majority of the pulp into a large pitcher. I actually like a little pulp and frothiness so I leave some in, but it's personal preference for whatever you like!
Add the remaining 1C water and stir. Taste and adjust sweetness and lime juice to your liking.
Serve chilled, over ice. Optional: salt rim pairs nicely with the sweetness of the agua fresca. Garnish and enjoy!
Watch me make this recipe on Instagram.
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