Ingredients

Equipment Needed

• •High-speed blender or standard blender
• •Fine-mesh strainer
• •Large pitcher (at least 2-quart capacity)
• •Ladle or large spoon for pressing pulp

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the watermelon

   Cut the watermelon into rough cubes, discarding the rind. You're looking for about 8 cups of fruit. Don't obsess over precision here. A little more melon simply means a richer drink. If using a seeded variety, remove as many seeds as you can without losing your patience. A few stragglers will be caught by the strainer.

   Chill your watermelon before cutting. Cold fruit produces a colder finished drink, and you'll need less ice to bring it to proper temperature.
2. 2

   Blend until smooth

   Working in batches if necessary, add the watermelon cubes to your blender. Purée until completely smooth, about 30 to 45 seconds. The mixture should be liquid with no visible chunks. You'll hear the motor change pitch when the fruit is fully broken down. That's your cue.

3. 3

   Strain the purée

   Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large pitcher or bowl. Pour the watermelon purée through in batches, using the back of a ladle or large spoon to press the pulp against the mesh. Work it. Coax every drop of liquid through. What remains in the strainer is fiber and any escaped seeds. Discard it, or save it for smoothies if you're the thrifty type.

   For an even silkier texture, line your strainer with cheesecloth. This catches the finest particles and produces agua fresca that's almost translucent.
4. 4

   Season and balance

   Add the lime juice, sugar, cold water, mint leaves, and salt to the strained watermelon. Stir well to dissolve the sugar. Now taste. This is the moment that separates good cooks from recipe followers. If your watermelon was candy-sweet, you may need no sugar at all. If it was merely pleasant, add more. The lime should brighten without announcing itself. The salt enhances sweetness without making the drink taste salty. Adjust until it tastes like the best possible version of watermelon.

5. 5

   Chill thoroughly

   Remove the mint leaves and refrigerate the agua fresca for at least one hour, or until thoroughly cold. This resting time allows the flavors to marry and mellow. The drink that emerges from your refrigerator will taste more integrated than what went in.

   If you're in a hurry, stir the agua fresca over a bowl of ice water for five minutes. Not as effective as proper chilling, but serviceable for impatient guests.
6. 6

   Serve over ice

   Stir the chilled agua fresca to recombine any separation. Fill glasses with ice and pour the coral-pink liquid over top. Garnish each glass with a fresh mint sprig and, if you're feeling festive, a thin wedge of lime perched on the rim. Serve immediately. Watch your guests close their eyes on the first sip.

Chef Tips

• •The best watermelons feel heavy for their size. That weight is water content, and water content is flavor. A light melon is a disappointing melon.
• •Agua fresca keeps refrigerated for up to three days, but the vibrancy fades after the first day. Make only what you'll drink within 24 hours for the truest flavor.
• •For a grown-up variation, add two ounces of silver tequila or white rum per glass. The watermelon provides enough sweetness to balance the spirit without additional sugar.
• •Freeze leftover agua fresca in ice cube trays. These cubes chill future batches without diluting them, or blend them into a watermelon granita.
• •A tablespoon of orange blossom water or rose water adds a subtle floral note that transforms this from refreshing to memorable. Use a light hand.

Advance Preparation

• •Watermelon can be cubed and refrigerated up to one day ahead in a sealed container.
• •The finished agua fresca keeps refrigerated for up to 3 days, though flavor is best within 24 hours.
• •For picnics, transport in a sealed container packed in ice. Bring garnishes separately and add just before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nutrition Information

1 serving (about 265g)