Watermelon Agua Fresca (Agua de Sandia)
There is no question, watermelon is the quinessential summertime fruit. A cool slice of watermelon is the perfect treat to beat the heat. Take your watermelon game up a notch with this sweet and refreshing watermelon agua fresca, also known as agua de sandia. Serve it chilled as is, or doctor it up with the suggestions at the end of the post. It will soon become your go-to summertime drink.
What is Agua Fresca?
Wikipedia describes aguas frescas as, “Spanish for “cool waters”, or literally “fresh waters”, aguas frescas are light non-alcoholic beverages made from one or more fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds blended with sugar and water. They are popular in Mexico, Central America, and parts of the United States such as the Southwest. Some of the more common flavors include tamarind, hibiscus, and horchata.”
Here in Texas it is not uncommon to see a variety of aguas frescas available at your favorite taco place. They make the perfect accompaniment to your tacos and elote.
Picking a Watermelon
Picking a watermelon is the first step in making a delicious agua de sandia. There are several tips you can follow to ensure you get a sweet, ripe, delicious watermelon.
First, look for the yellow spot on one side of the watermelon. This yellow
spot develops as the watermelon ripens in the field. The more yellow the spot, the sweeter the watermelon.
Second, look for the webbing. Webbing means that the watermelon flower was pollinated adequately. Just like the spot, more webbing typically means a sweeter watermelon.
It's All Up to You
As with most of our recipes, amounts are simply suggestions. Your watermelon may not be very sweet, so you may need to add more simple syrup. Maybe you need more lime or mint. Do it! Adjust the measurements as you see fit. The first time I made this the flavor was very light, which was wonderful. The second time, my watermelon was REALLY sweet so I needed to pull back the simple syrup. Taste it as you prepare and don’t be afraid to add or take away wherever you like.
You’ll notice we strained our juice through a cheesecloth. This is not a required step. As a personal preference, I wanted the juice to be without any pulp, but if you like it in there, keep it!
Serving Suggestions
You’ll find that this watermelon juice is refreshing and delicious just as it is, but if you want to zhuzh it up a little, here are some suggestions.
- Rim your glass with lime and Tajin
- Rim your glass with chamoy and Tajin
- Add a shot of your favorite liquor; tequila, vodka, rum
- Blend it with some ice for a chilly treat
- Freeze it in popsicle molds for the kids (or yourself)
- Garnish with mint, cucumber, watermelon, or lime to let your guests know the flavors they can expect
Watermelon Agua Fresca (Agua de Sandia)
Equipment
- Blender
- Cheesecloth
- Sieve or collander
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Large spoon
- Small pot
- 1 Gallon pitcher
Ingredients
- 1 small-medium watermelon (6-8 cups cubed)
- 1 large cucumber (peeled and cubed)
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- fresh mint (to taste)
- ½ gallon water
Simple Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Cut and cube your watermelon.
- Blend until smooth, in batches if necessary.
- Pour the blended watermelon through a cheesecloth that has been placed in either a sieve or collander.
- Blend the cucumber, mint, and lime juice until smooth.
- Strain the cucumber, lime, mint juice through the cheesecloth.
- In a small saucepan, over high heat, stir together sugar and water until all crystals dissolve. Remove from heat.
- Discard the cheesecloth and pulp and do not squeeze if you are tring to keep the juice clear. Pour into 1 gallon pitcher. Add simple syrup to taste, starting with less and adding more as necessary. Fill the rest of the 1 gallon pitcher with water.
- Chill the agua de sandi completely before serving.
Video
4 thoughts on “Watermelon Agua Fresca Recipe – How to Make Agua de Sandia”
She made this for the party on the beach, and it was SO good!! Very refreshing on a very hot day.
So glad you liked it! It really was so thirst-quenching in that hot Texas heat.
You spelt sieve wrong.(The i before the e except after c).that wee ditty helps me remember. Maybe it will help you too.
Good catch! Thank you. 🙂