If you're feeling summer vibes, you need to try this agua de sandia recipe. Enjoy sweet, juicy, and refreshing flavors all while gazing at the beautiful pink hue of watermelon.
You won't be able to stop at just one glass!
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📖 About
If you're looking to cool off on a hot day (or to mix up your usual water), this is the recipe for you!
All you need is 2 simple ingredients (watermelon and agave) and you'll have yourself the best watermelon drink ever!
What is it?
Agua de sandia is a type of agua fresca, or "fresh water."
Aguas frescas can be made with fruit, grains, or flowers and are found all over Mexico. You'll find them in taquerias, restaurants, or sold on the side of the road.
We're focusing today's recipe on the most iconic summer fruit of all — watermelon (aka sandia).
So, is this a smoothie or fruit juice?
It's neither, which is why we love this drink!
Watermelon agua fresca is lighter and less sweet than both a smoothie and fruit juice, making it a healthier alternative. If we had to categorize this drink, we'd put it somewhere between juice and fruit-infused water.
Serving
Serve this watermelon agua fresca completely chilled or right away in a glass full of ice, which we prefer.
Add a squeeze of lime if you're wanting to add a zesty little sumpin' sumpin'.
Looking to get a buzz on? This drink mixes perfectly with vodka or rum! Make it a double and add two ounces to your glass (backyard barbecues, here we come).
Seriously though, this watermelon water is so easy to make, tastes delicious, and never fails to please a crowd.
Don't even worry, it's vegan, gluten-free, and can easily be made sugar-free.
🍲 Key ingredients
For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.
Watermelon
Taste: watermelon tastes fresh, juicy, and sweet, which makes it the perfect base for a refreshing summertime drink.
Health: watermelon is 92% water, making it ideal for drinks. It's low in calories and keeps you super hydrated. You also have the added bonus of vitamin C, which helps prevent cell damage (antioxidants to the rescue!).
Fact: did you know there are over 1200 varieties of watermelons?! They're usually grouped into 1 of 4 categories: picnic (or seeded), seedless, mini (also known as icebox), or yellow/orange.
Agave
Taste: agave is somewhat comparable to honey, but has a more neutral flavor. We love using agave since it's inexpensive and readily available to us here in Mexico.
Health: compared to sugar, agave has a much lower glycemic index (GI), making it suitable for people who need to watch their blood sugar. Although agave has its advantages, any food containing excess calories can be an issue if your primary goal is weight loss.
Fact: in order to make agave syrup, the plant is stripped of everything except the core. The core is then pressed to extract sap, which is filtered and heated, resulting in syrup.
🔪 Instructions
If you have questions about how to make agua de sandia, don't forget to check out our FAQ section at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: slice the watermelon in wedges and remove the rind. De-seed each piece, then cut it into small chunks to make it easier on your blender.
Step 2: add half the watermelon to your blender with a cup of water. Blend on high until smooth, then transfer to a large mason jar or pitcher. Repeat the same process with the other half of the watermelon cubes.
Step 3: add the rest of the water into your pitcher along with a little agave. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your preference. If you want it sweeter, add in more agave. If you want it thinner, add in more water. The nice thing about this recipe is how customizable it is!
Step 4: transfer to your fridge to chill for a few hours, or serve your agua de sandia immediately over ice with mint sprigs, fresh basil, lime, or lemon wedges. Enjoy!
🌡️ Storage
If you don't drink this watermelon water in one sitting, don't worry. You have lots of options.
Fridge
This recipe will store in the fridge for up to 3 days. We find keeping our aguas frescas in a large mason jar keeps them fresh for longer.
Freezer
Freeze your leftovers in ice cube trays to chill your next recipe. As your ice cubes melt, you'll just taste more watermelon deliciousness!
Dilution
We always store this recipe with the water mixed into the concentrate, but you can also add it on an individual basis. If you already know your preferred sweetness level, mix the agave and water straight into your pitcher or jar.
💭 Pro tips
Time to share our tips and tricks we learned while perfecting this recipe for you:
- Make sure your watermelon is ripe. For the best flavor, make this recipe with in-season watermelons.
- Add sweetener as you go. Start slow and adjust to your preferred taste.
- Add a pinch of sea salt. A little salt brings out the flavor of the watermelon just a bit more.
- Remove the seeds. We don't like hard chunks in our agua de sandia, and we assume you don't either.
- Add in mint or basil. Both of these herbs pair extremely well with watermelon and add a touch more complexity.
- Go sugar-free. This drink is great with stevia, monk fruit, or nothing!
🍴 Tasting notes
We know this watermelon water is exactly what you've been looking for. It's:
- Sweet
- Juicy
- Refreshing
- Light
- Healthy
If you try this agua de sandia recipe, please rate it and leave us a comment below! Want to stay up-to-date with new recipes? Subscribe to our newsletter or connect with Broke Bank Vegan on social media. Happy eating!
📋 Recipe
Agua de Sandia
Equipment
- Chef knife
- Cutting board
- Blender
- Pitcher or large mason jar
Ingredients
- 4 lbs (~12 cups) watermelon, diced ($2.24)
- 8-9 cups water ($0.01)
- ¼ - ½ cup agave or other liquid sweetener ($0.61)
To Serve optional
- Ice
- Mint sprigs
- Lime or lemon wedges
- Basil leaves
Instructions
- To start, slice the watermelon in wedges and remove the rind. De-seed each piece, then cut it into small chunks to make it easier on your blender.
- Add half the watermelon to your blender with 1 cup of water. Blend on high until smooth, then transfer to a large mason jar or pitcher. Repeat the same process with the other half of the watermelon.
- Add the rest of the water (~6-8 more cups) into your pitcher along with ¼ cup agave and stir. Taste and adjust the sweetness or water to taste. If you prefer it sweeter, add in the rest of the agave. If you want it thinner, add in more water.
- Transfer to your fridge to chill for a few hours, or serve your agua de sandia immediately over ice with mint sprigs, fresh basil, lime, or lemon wedges. Enjoy!
Notes
- ½ large watermelon = ~ 12 cups of watermelon cubes.
- If your watermelon is in season, it may be sweet enough without agave. Taste first, then adjust to your preferences.
- If you don't have agave, try making your own simple syrup with granulated sugar and hot water.
- Optional ingredients are not reflected in the price or calories of our recipes.
- We calculate nutritional information for our recipes with Cronometer.
- Recipe cost calculations are based on ingredients local to us and may vary from recipe-to-recipe.
- All prices are in USD.
Nutrition
♻️ Similar recipes
For more refreshing Mexican drinks, check out our:
- Agua de Jamaica for a tart and refreshing drink made with hibiscus flowers.
- Horchata if you want a light, creamy, and easy-to-make drink with rice and cinnamon.
- Agua de tamarindo for a drink like nothing you've ever tasted before.
- Mango smoothie with avocado to enjoy a creamy and rich smoothie that's bursting at the seams with tropical flavors.
💬 FAQ
No, you do not have to strain the blended watermelon unless you prefer it that way.
This recipe is not sugar-free since it contains agave. However, if your watermelon is in season and extra-sweet, you can absolutely omit the sweetener for a lower calorie version!
You do not have to chill this drink before serving it. We recommend leaving your watermelon in the fridge for a few hours or overnight before blending it. If the melon is at room temperature, serve your agua de sandia over more ice.
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