Watermelon Agua Fresca

[cbayer]

Agua Frescas are the most common non-alcoholic cold beverages here in Mexico.

They can be made with a variety of things and the most common are Jamaica (hibiscus leaves) and horchata (rice).

I love both of those, but decided to take on watermelon yesterday.

If you have to buy a whole watermelon for only a couple of people, you are probably going to get sick of the whole mess and end up with a rotting chunk of melon.

So, try this!

Cut the fruit away from the rind and puree with some water (about 1 cup/pound melon). Add the juice of one lime, simple syrup to taste and strain through a small mesh strainer.

Absolutely delicious and about the most thirst quenching thing I have ever drank.

Do you have a favorite Agua Fresca?

[pinto]

1. Local Mexican restaurant makes watermelon fresca with fresh lime juice and mint leaves. It's great.

They add some sweetener, not sure what. But it really is a good blend. Goes well with a summer meal.

Speaking of which - I have watermelon on hand, the neighbor has a community lime tree, I have mint and it's effin' 97 degrees here.
Thanks for the idea.

[cbayer]

2. Lol! Stay hydrated!

Mint sounds like a wonderful addition.

[Sentath]

3. I had a Cantaloupe / Muskmelon one once

It was amazing.

Strangely enough I have trouble finding them here in AZ. I begin to suspect prejudice.




I'm sorry, I can't not ask. Don't you mean hibiscus flowers?

[cbayer]

4. Oops, yes. It's definitely dried hibiscus flowers.

They sell them bulk, even in little markets.

[Sentath]

5. "with a taste like a mix of raspberry and rhubarb"

To quote a bottle of candied ones I have somewhere.

Love them, love them.

[cbayer]

6. The drink is really easy.

Have you ever made it?

If not, are you interested in the recipe?

[japple]

7. I've never made these, but love the idea, esp. since I literally wilt in the GA summer heat.

Can this be made in the morning and refrigerated to enjoy throughout the day? Can honey be used for the sweetener? Do you chill the fresca, serve over ice, or drink straight up? I realize that folks outside the US don't have the American fascination with ice.

[cbayer]

8. You can definitely make it in the morning or the night before.

Honey would be great. Just puree it with the watermelon, I would think.

I chilled it and drank it straight up all day.

I may use it for a cocktail later!

Ice is something I love, but these agua frescas are basically flavored waters, so watering them down further sometimes is too much.

Give it a try.

Hope you are feeling better.

[japple]

13. Thanks, friend! The cold/sinus impaction is breaking up big time.

So happy to be free from the sinus pressure. All done with a saline wash/irrigation and no antibiotics, plus extra Vit. C, D-3, and nutribiotics.

Watermelon is one of the joys of summer, here in Georgia. My Dad and Uncle Leon used to grow beautiful watermelons right here where I am living now. We haven't gotten there yet, but every year our garden is better. My Texas relations used to grow some kick-ass watermelons and it made that long trip (c. 1950s) in the backseat of an un-airconditioned car from Virginia or Georgia to outside San Antonio almost bearable.

[KC]

9. It sounds

wonderful! I'm going to try it after I go to the store! Is that all there is to making it?
Sounds easy enough!

[cbayer]

10. We just finished off the pitcher I made a couple of days ago.

And I am already craving some more.

It really is that easy and you don't have to worry about the seeds. They won't puree.

I used a stick blender, but you could use a regular blender.

How much you squeeze through your sieve will determine how much pulp there is.

Oh, btw, I told my husband to throw the pulp overboard and caught him eating it, lol.

Let me know how it turns out for you.

[KC]

11. I was going

to try the stick blender since my blender is very small!
I'd be doing the same as your hubby lol
I absolutely love watermelon. I never cared that much for it until about the last 2-3 years and now I can't seem to get enough of it!
I'll definitely let you know how mine turns out.

[cbayer]

12. I've always loved it, but it's such a PITA to store and cut up and save parts of...

so I think I've been avoiding it.

This way, you can take care of the whole thing in one sweep. That is, after you cut off a big slice, sprinkle it with some salt and eat it in your bathing suit under the sprinkler!

Enjoy.

[KC]

14. I definitely

agree with you there lol. Since it's just me I've just been getting just a slice or two. Or if I want more I sometimes get just a half of a small one. The grocery store that's nearest to me has what they label as heart of watermelon and is already cut up and I really like that I don't have to mess with the rind, but it costs more that way.

[Snarkoleptic]

15. I need to try the Casserole Queens' version!

[Texasgal]

16. If you love watermelon you must try it grilled!

I know I've posted about this before but it is really amazing!

Cut your watermelon in fourths. Season with chili and lime. Stick on the grill for a few until you get the burn marks. ENJOY! Best thing ever!

[pinto]

17. That sounds really good. I absolutely love watermelon.

Think I'd slice the melon in a few big whole, flat cuts. Spice and grill real quick both sides, then cut into wedges as a BBQ side.

[cbayer]

18. I remember you suggesting this before, but never tried it.

Will do next time I have one.

Thanks!

[dem in texas]

19. Watermelon Punch

I found a recipe in an old Bon Apetit cookbook for watermelon punch. I am waiting for the watermelons to get good and ripe to try it, same concept as Agua Sandia; Puree watermelon chunks in small batches to extract juice. Strain into large bowl or jar. Do same for 3 pints hulled strawberries and add strawberry juice to watermelon juice. Add some sugar and lime juice. Should have 8 to 10 cups of the fruit liquid. Add 1 cup tequila and a little triple sec. Refrigerate to chill.

To serve, fill a bowl made of the watermelon shell with some of the punch, garnish with sliced strawberries and mint leaves. Refill bowl as needed.

Sounds good doesn't it? My only thought is that it may need some water or club soda to thin down. The recipe in the cookbook called for vodka, but I will use tequila and some triple sec. I have had watermelon margaritas before and like them a lot.

[cbayer]

20. There's a lot of water in melon and I didn't find the juice itself

in need of watering down.

Tequila and triple sec is a great idea.