New Favorite Thing: Agua Fresca

You may remember a previous post where I gave a recipe for cucumber, lime and mint agua fresca? Well, now I've found another: watermelon agua fresca. OH MY GOSH it's so delicious! I can't even tell you... you just have to try it. I like both of the recipes equally, so you should try them both. I just (literally about 4 minutes ago) made the watermelon agua fresca and am sipping it happily right now. Talk about refreshing!

So, here is the recipe, courtesy of the "Yummy Supper" blog:

Watermelon Agua Fresca with Fresh Mint and Lime

Ingredients:

4 cups watermelon puree ( approximately 1 medium watermelon)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (approximately 4-5 juicy limes)

1/3 cup chopped mint leaves

1/4 cup, plus 2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 cup water

Make a simple syrup. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a sauce pan. Heat until sugar has dissolved. Let cool. (Note: The simple syrup you don't use for this recipe can be refrigerated and and put to other uses in cocktails or to sweeten your iced coffee or tea.)

Next, Cut off watermelon rind and dice into large pieces. Place approximately 2 cups of watermelon flesh into your blender. Using a spoon, push down the watermelon chunks until they release a bunch of juice (this released liquid will help make the blending easier). Blend thoroughly. Do another batch until you have yielded 4 cups of pureed watermelon.

Juice limes and add lime juice to blender. Coarsely chop mint leaves. Crush mint with 2 teaspoons of sugar. Use a mortar and pestle if you have one, otherwise use a wooden spoon in a bowl to pulverize the mint and sugar. When you are done, you will have a well-integrated mint/sugar paste. Add paste into the blender.

Blend pureed watermelon and lime juice with the sugary mint). Add 2-3 tablespoons simple syrup. How much simple syrup you use will depend on the natural sugar content of your watermelon and your own personal preference for sweetness.

Served chilled. Always give the punch a stir before serving to integrate the ingredients.

P.S. If you want to transform this punch into a cocktail, I suggest adding 2 tablespoons rum to every cup of punch.

Hello lover.

If you're on the fence about this and just don't know if you'll like it... make it. It's the most refreshing, tasty, tangy, beverage that I've had all summer. Enjoy!

~ Mari