Refreshing, vibrant and summery, watermelon agua fresca is a heat- and humidity-buster in a glass. To a blender, add: 3 cups cubed, seeded watermelon; half a peeled, chopped cucumber; 5 to 6 mint leaves; and ½ cup water. Blend until liquified. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher. Stir in 1 tablespoon lime juice and 1 tablespoon simple syrup. Refrigerate until chilled. Then throw on your best sundress and Panama hat, find a shady spot and start sipping.To turn this agua fresca into a tasty cocktail, pour 1 ounce gin in a glass filled with crushed ice. Add 4 ounces aqua fresca and stir gently. Garnish with fresh mint. Careful! It goes down pretty easy.
To turn this agua fresca into a tasty cocktail, pour 1 ounce gin in a glass filled with crushed ice. Add 4 ounces aqua fresca and stir gently. Garnish with fresh mint. Careful! It goes down pretty easy.
This article appears in Readers’ Choice 2014.