Watermelon Agua Fresca

Watermelon Agua Fresca

The Fourth July will be here in no time at all! I know because the neighborhood has been crazy with fireworks. When it hasn’t been raining anyway! It’s been like should someone be building an ark? At least I’ve had a reprieve from yard work. I’m doing little things here and there, like deadheading flowers, pulling a few weeds but am waiting on some help with some more major projects. I do know that I want to make this Watermelon Aguas Fresca for the Fourth.

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Watermelon Agua Fresca


 

I’ve been loving Watermelon Agua Fresca since I first made Watermelon Sorbet years ago, from a recipe that I think came from Gourmet. I never posted it, but it was fun. That sorbet was made in a bowl and layered, with lime sherbert being the outer edge, then the watermelon sorbet went in the center with little tiny watermelon seeds made from chocolate. Then it was cut into slices. Maybe sometime I’ll make that again. It was a project. But the best thing about that sorbet was I discovered how good watermelon juice is! It’s like drinking the taste of summer.

About Watermelon Agua Fresca:

I don’t know why we don’t have things like Watermelon soda – wouldn’t that be great? But we do have Watermelon Agua Fresca, thanks to our friends South of the Border. If you’re not familiar with Aguas Frescas, the words translate literally to Fresh Water. There are all kinds of Aguas Frescas, made from all kinds of ingredients, but most commonly fruits. I do have one on my site already, my Horchata, which is made from…wait for it…rice. That’s a different animal though.

Watermelon Agua Fresca is really a cool, refreshing drink, and you’ll probably find yourself going on a little kick, maybe even making it for the rest of the summer. It’s easy, it’s simple and it’s messy to make, so prepare yourself! Make sure you have a lot of space to work. All you really do is cut up a watermelon, blend it with a little water, strain it and pour it over ice.

It’s best to plan ahead, and put a pitcher full or two in the fridge, so it’s well chilled before serving. And if you have one of those cute dispensers, this is the perfect time to pull it out, wash it up and have it at the ready.

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Making Watermelon Agua Fresca:

These days you’ll never know what’s available as far as watermelons. They’re just starting to come into season in some areas, so you might have the old fashioned kind with the seeds. Or you might just have the smaller, rounder ones that weigh around three pounds or so. It doesn’t really matter in terms of making the Agua Fresca because the chunks can go right in the blender, seeds and all since it’s strained out.

Here’s a great place to use, if you have one, one of those juicers that separate the pulp from the juice. If you don’t have one, just use the time-honored method of adding chunks of watermelon to the blender with a little water, then straining. Since everything is so liquidy, it doesn’t take long to strain, and a bit of body is just fine. Just let it go through a metal sieve and don’t try to get it perfectly clear. If you don’t want to strain your juice, you don’t have to, btw. But if you are using one of those toggle dispensers, it might clog up; be prepared for that or just use a pitcher. The pulp will settle.

Watermelons vary in size and juiciness and unless you grab yours and take it over to the scale at the store, you probably aren’t ever going to know how much it weighs. Heck, one store I shop in doesn’t even have any scales any longer! So what I’m saying is it’s hard to guestimate exactly what your yield will be, but I can give you kind of a ballpark idea – I find that smaller, rounder seedless watermelons make about 4 to 6 cups of juice, the larger old fashioned about 6 to 8 cups. Just in case you’re thinking, my goodness, that’s a lot of watermelon for so little yield, keep in mind that this recipe does have water added and is served over ice. And it’s so delish!

And just because I haven’t posted a photo of Chance, my deplorable Lab-radorable for a long time here’s the little rascal in my garden. That’s better than another pic of Watermelon Agua Fresca, isn’t it?

 

Saving Money on Watermelon Agua Fresca:

When you buy a watermelon, look for them on sale during the peak of the season and pick one that seems heavy for its size. That’s more important than color or minor blemishes. Turn the melon over. The blotch on the bottom (where the watermelon rested on the ground) should be creamy colored not an anemic white. Give it a thump. The watermelon should sound hollow.

You can hone your skills by comparing the sound of the watermelon you’ve picked with several others, especially if you’ve spotted one with a white, rather than creamy splotch. When you cut watermelon, use a clean knife and a clean counter or board and it will last longer in the fridge. A large rubber band will easily hold any plastic wrap in place.

The best time to buy your watermelon is usually before a holiday when they’re almost always on sale; do watch ads, though, because the stores can be very competitive and prices can vary a lot!

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Watermelon Agua Fresca

  • Servings: about 7 cups
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

  • 1/2 small watermelon, rind removed, cut into chunks
  • 3 cups water
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

Blend watermelon and water in batches. Strain. Chill if desired. Serve over ice. Feel free to adjust proportions to your taste, adding more or less of any ingredients.

Note: yield may vary with different types of watermelon.

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I’ll be sharing Frito Taco Salad at Fiesta Friday #279; the co-hosts this week are Antonia @ Zoale.com and Angie of Fiesta Friday!

Just in case you didn't know, Watermelon Agua Fresca can be dangerous! You'll make it once and want it all summer long. #WatermelonAguaFresca #WatermelonJuice

28 thoughts on “Watermelon Agua Fresca

  1. I’ve made watermelon lemonade when I ended up with a seedless melon that wasn’t very sweet. Better than just pitching it. I’ve had, enjoyed and made my own horchata.

    And tamarind agua fresca. Delicious. Reminds me that I should really make some this summer. 🙂

    • FrugalHausfrau

      I will have to try thee taamarind! It seems I always have some because I buy it for some recipe and don’t have a use for what’s left!!

      • Agua de Tamarindo or Tamarind Drink
        My version (makes 3-4 cups)

        6 oz (170 gm) tamarind pulp
        2 cups cold water, additional water as needed
        3/8 – 1/2 cups granulated sugar
        lime wedges
        granulated salt (optional)
        ice cubes

        In a small sauce pan, break up the tamarind pulp and add 2 cups of water. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and let cool for 15 minutes or until cool enough to be able to break down the mass further with your fingers. (If you want to get the highest flavour yield from your pulp, remove any seeds and sticks if present, and then throw the contents of the pan into your food processor. Puree until smooth.)

        Pass the liquid and pulp through a fine mesh filter, several layers of cheesecloth, or a fine weave, preferably unused, linen dish towel. You should get about 1 1/2 cups of liquid. Add additional water til you have 3 cups. Add sugar, 1/8 cup at a time until sweet but still retaining its tartness.

        Pour over ice and serve with a wedge of lime. You may want to rim each individual serving glass with granulated sugar or salt, as desired.

        Other version: To every cup of tamarind drink, add 1/4 cup club soda.

        • FrugalHausfrau

          Thanks so much!! I might have to appropriate this for a full post so I can always find it!! 🙂

              • I had a lot of Tequila … my nephew brought me a duty free 40 oz bottle. 🙂

                Tequila Tamarindo – makes one drink

                1/4 – 1/2 cup tamarind drink (more tart with higher amount)
                1/2 cup orange juice
                1 oz tequila (Jose Cuervo)
                3-4 ice cubes
                wedge of lime
                granulated sugar or salt (depending on your taste)

                Run a wedge of lime around the rim of the glass you’ll be using to serve your drink. Dip the dampened rim into a plate of granulated sugar or salt. Add several ice cubes, tamarind drink, orange juice and tequila.

                Decorate with a wedge of lime and before drinking squeeze your lime juice into your drink. Throw in the lime wedge and enjoy.

              • My nephew brought me a duty free 40 oz bottle of tequila so that’s what I used.

                Tequila Tamarindo – makes one drink

                1/4 – 1/2 cup tamarind drink (more tart with higher amount)
                1/2 cup orange juice
                1 oz tequila (Jose Cuervo)
                3-4 ice cubes
                wedge of lime
                granulated sugar or salt (depending on your taste)

                Run a wedge of lime around the rim of the glass you’ll be using to serve your drink. Dip the dampened rim into a plate of granulated sugar or salt. Add several ice cubes, tamarind drink, orange juice and tequila.

                Decorate with a wedge of lime and before drinking squeeze your lime juice into your drink. Throw in the lime wedge and enjoy.

    • FrugalHausfrau

      You know how you start a watermelon, then take it out and have a few more slices and before you know it your done with it but there’s still a bunch left! I will never have that “problem” again!!

      • I’m with you. I love watermelon more than any other summer fruit and your drink looks so yum. My idol, Nigella Lawson, made a watermelon daiquiri type of drink on one of her earlier shows that reminds me a bit of your method here.

        • FrugalHausfrau

          Funnyy I wouldn’t have picked you as a Nigella – gosh, I want to say “gal” but that’s so Midwestern, lol!! I have several of recipes that I love!! The first being her chocolate guinness cake!!

          • Oh yes, I ADORE Nigella! She is the main reason I started to cook in my early 30s once I saw Nigella Bites. I own nearly every one of her cookbooks and have made the vast majority of her recipes, including the Guinness cake on several previous St. Patrick’s Days. Isn’t it the best?

            • FrugalHausfrau

              I can’t think about that cake or I will go make it, lol!! Thank goodness I don’t have any Guinness in the house! The recipes I’ve made of hers have all been fantastic and have some class, but they haven’t been that difficult. It seems she makes things accessable in a way that’s easy to replicate.

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