It feels like summer has officially arrived around here, as evidenced by the fact that I can no longer wear jeans outside while playing basketball for Lincoln (that’s right, for Lincoln, as he’s obsessed with basketballs and hoops including watching me shoot basketballs into hoops,) without sweating my life away.
#momlife also, #embarrassingyourself
Also evidenced by the fact that I’m actively throwing deck parties! Yes! I’ve always been a nervous entertainer but throwing my Dad’s surprise party last month kind of lit a fire inside my soul and we’ve already scheduled three get-togethers over the next two months to grill and chill on the back deck.
First up is a group of girls from MOPS! I’ve mentioned a few times over the last year that I joined a Mom’s group called MOPS (mothers of pre-schoolers) and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made post-baby. To have an instant connection and something in common with a big group of women is a really cool thing, and tomorrow my group table is coming over to deck sail with apps, cocktails, and this fine pitcher of pink perfection, Watermelon Agua Fresca.
What in the world is agua fresca? Agua fresca is a cool and refreshing, non-alcoholic drink (no, I’m not preggers!) made by blending fresh fruit and water, and sometimes sugar. To celebrate the beginning of summer, aka watermelon season, I used the naturally super-sweet fruit as the base of my Watermelon Agua Fresca, which eliminated the need for added sugar, then squeezed in fresh lime juice for a touch of tartness.
CAN I GET AN AMEN.
Can I also tell you how amazing this drink is?? Less sweet than juice, more flavor than those “hint” of xyz waters (which I just can’t get into no matter how hard I try,) Watermelon Agua Fresca is crisp, refreshing, and it’s sweetness level is straight up on point. Is that the same thing?
Anyway, the mojito fanatic in me couldn’t leave the combination of watermelon and lime alone so I added a few sprigs of fresh mint for a slight whisper – a mere suggestion, if you will – of minty, mojito flavor. It’s fantastic. I promise you’ll be gulping this drink all summer long.
In addition to this Watermelon Agua Fresca being a perfect patio sipping beverage, it’d be great for baby showers (please don’t ever be that person that serves alcohol at your friend’s baby shower, right? Total torture!) a healthier option for kids vs juice with added sugar, or for a burst of energy and hydration either before or after a hot summer workout.
I feel like I have fifteen additional reasons you should make this drink, but aw, ok, I’ll get on with it! (Btw I have no idea why my thumbnail looks so mangled in this photo. Please ignore!)
Start with a big ol’ watermelon. I always look for a watermelon that’s heavy for its size and has a big light-yellow spot on one side, indicating it’s been sitting in the sun ripening to pure, pink perfection.
Like this! Come on, does any sight and scent indicate summer’s here more than juicy watermelon?!
Chop the watermelon then add 6 cups of it to a blender with the juice of 1-1/2 limes and 3/4 cup water then blend until very smooth.
Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher using a spatula to help press every drop from the pulp.
Next grab some mint!
I planted a teeny tiny spearmint plant a few weeks ago and it has blossomed to almost four times its size in about as many weeks. Call me crazy but I always feel wistful snipping fresh herbs when they’ve worked so hard to grow, but the best way to make fresh herbs producer faster is to cut ’em!
Whether they’re home-grown or store-bought, spike a few sprigs of fresh mint into the watermelon agua fresca, then chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. When you’re ready to serve, fill the pitcher with ice then pour!
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Watermelon Agua Fresca
Description
Watermelon Agua Fresca is a refreshing sipper for summer's hottest days. Just 4 ingredients with no added sugar!
Ingredients
- 6 cups chopped watermelon
- juice of 1-1/2 limes (plus wedges for garnish)
- 3/4 cup water
- 4 sprigs fresh mint (spearmint not peppermint)
Directions
- Add watermelon, lime juice, and water to a blender then blend until very smooth. Strain liquid through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher then add mint sprigs and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Add ice to the pitcher then serve with fresh lime wedges for garnish.
Notes
- Add agave nectar or powdered sugar to taste if drink is not naturally sweet enough for you.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Each glass of Watermelon Agua Fresca is lightly sweet, cold and refreshing, and let’s be real – ADORABLE TO THE MAX. And if you feel the need to add a splash of vodka, rum or even (gasp!) champagne, I won’t be the one telling you it’s a bad idea. ;)
Summer is short, so drink up!
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Love it! Especially since I’m pretty sure I paid about $50 for a bottle of the same thing from whole foods once….
This looks absolutely perfect for a summer deck party! It hasn’t been that warm yet in Chicago (70 today), but once it hits 80, this drink is calling my name.
Thanks for the occasional non-alcoholic drink :D We don’t drink so it’s always a treat!! And this is perfect since I have a LOVELY watermelon in the fridge! Question…did you use the whole watermelon to get the 6 cups?
I have half so I assumed I would just cut the recipe in half.
I love that there is no added sugar! Thanks for the recipe :)
Can’t wait to try this one! Kid friendly, and adult friendly (tequila for me, please….watermelon margarita! yummmm). I bought a spearmint plant last year, and was so excited when it grew so well. BUT, when I snipped the leaves and added to my green tea, I could taste ZERO mint. Like it just tasted like “greens” in my drink. I was so disappointed. Did I get a dud? Is there such a thing? You’ve never had any trouble?
Oh no, that’s so strange! You would think steeping it in hot water would cause it to release it’s flavor? Maybe the plant was mis-marked when you bought it?
Ooo, I will make this soon. Looks so good. Now, about that mint you planted. You might want to dig it up and place it in a pot instead. The stuff spreads like wild fire and will soon take up your bed! I started with two little sprigs. It took three years of constant pulling to get the stuff out of mine. If you don’t like the look of the pot you could always put the pot in the ground to hid it. Just be sure to leave about an inch or so of the pot above the ground.
I put it in that bed because it’s already 80% taken over by oregano which also spreads like CRAZY! I figure they can have each other (and there’s no such thing as too much mint in my house – we are mojito fanatics!)
Hi Kristin,
it looks delicious, and I LOVE everything with watermelon & mint :-)
Can you please tell me what is the script font you used in the first photo? It looks lovely.
Thank you,
Stella
You bet! It’s called Jenna Sue :)
This looks sooooo good! Love that the recipe itself is NA, but you can guarantee I’ll be spiking it with Hendrick’s Gin as soon as these babies start life on the outside!! In fact, maybe I’ll even try it with each of the boozes that have been gathering dust on my liquor shelf for the past eight months. I legit dusted them all last week. *tear*
This looks downright refreshing! I love that it’s so easy to make and naturally sweet. Definitely a perfect summer refreshment. I, too, am glad that it’s finally starting to get warm enough to entertain outside! (Although, I had to turn our heat back on two nights ago. Something wrong with that picture!)
Looks so refreshing! Does the six cups blended watermelon fill a pitcher?
About half the pitcher (it rises to the top with the ice!)
I loved MOPS….almost enough to have a second baby, almost but not quite!
Yum! I bet if you added some cucumber vodka would taste yummy too!
What can you do with the left over watermelon pulp?
There was actually very little pulp left (maybe 1/4 cup) and it’s not really pulp, more…mush. I just rinsed it out of the sieve!
I cannot wait to make this drink this weekend. It looks like the perfect fresh summer drink. And I love that it has no sugar.
I was just trying to find a simple watermelon agua fresca recipe for a mops group dinner i put on here in Minnesota on Monday! I’m saving this for the next one!
How refreshing & ideal for summer! I definitely am saving this recipe for when the weather gets hot.. here in Australia we’ve just gone into winter!
That looks so refreshing! Summer hasn’t really arrived where I live yet, but I’l bookmark this for later ;)
This is a good as real food (or drinks) get! I love that it has no added sugar and is just bursting with flavour!
WOW, this looks delicious! Thank you for the recipe – will definetely try it out! :)
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I have fresh peppermint out back. Do you think peppermint is too strong or do you just prefer the taste of spearmint? Do you muddle the spearmint or just put the whole sprigs in the pitcher? I happen to have a watermelon handy so I will definitely try this.
I think the combo of peppermint and watermelon might be a bit off. It’s fine though – the drink will still taste great without it! :)
This looks amazing! It hit 100* here in Napa yesterday for the first time this summer…this is the perfect thing to help keep the heat away.
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This was delicious! I left out the mint since I didn’t have any, and it was still so good! I linked to it on my latest blog posting, so I hope that my family will make some the next time I go visit them. ;-) Thanks for posting!
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I’m not a fan of mint so i didn’t add it. But i did add a pinch of salt and it was wonderful. Thanks for the recipe.
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I couldn’t find Spearmint. So I’m going to opt for trying some drops (by taste) of Young Living Spearmint essential oil in its place. :)