Chef John's Watermelon Agua Fresca

4.6
(41)

Watermelon agua fresca is my all-time favorite summertime drink. When it's hot and humid and you're totally parched, there's nothing as refreshing, as revitalizing, and as restorative as ice-cold watermelon agua fresca. It's one of life's great drinkable pleasures.

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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
5 mins
Additional Time:
50 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:
6
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • ½ seedless watermelon

  • 2 cups cold water

  • ½ cup white sugar, or to taste

  • ½ cup water

  • ice, as needed

Directions

  1. Scoop flesh from watermelon half and transfer to a blender with 2 cups cold water. Place a folded towel on the blender lid and blend until liquefied, about 1 minute. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl to remove fibers. Discard fibers left in the strainer. Skim and discard excess foam from the juice if desired.

  2. Place sugar and 1/2 cup water into a saucepan over medium heat; stir until water is hot and sugar has dissolved. Turn off the heat and let simple syrup cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes. Stir simple syrup into watermelon juice to taste.

  3. Pour drink into a 2-quart pitcher and refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes. To serve, fill tall glasses with ice cubes and pour agua fresca drink over ice. Serve with straws.

    an iced glass of bright red watermelon drink with condensation on the glass, garnished with a lime wheel
    "So refreshing!". Doughgirl8

Chef's Notes:

Flesh from one watermelon half equals 5 to 6 cups.

Serving Suggestion: Fill the empty watermelon half shell with ice, pour the aqua fresca into the shell, and serve garnished with a sprig of mint.

67 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

177 Calories
1g Fat
45g Carbs
2g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 177
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 45g 16%
Dietary Fiber 2g 5%
Total Sugars 40g
Protein 2g 5%
Vitamin C 30mg 34%
Calcium 29mg 2%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 421mg 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.