Nitrate & Nitrite Free Classic Watermelon Agua Fresca
Bright, juicy, and endlessly refreshing, this agua fresca is summer in a glass — the kind of drink that disappears fast at any backyard gathering. It comes together with just a handful of real, whole ingredients: fresh watermelon, lime juice, a pinch of salt, and a touch of sugar to balance everything out. For anyone keeping a close eye on processed additives, this is a genuinely clean option — no cured meats, no packaged mixes, no hidden preservatives lurking in the ingredient list. The blending and straining process pulls out a silky-smooth liquid that looks almost too pretty to drink. A squeeze of fresh lime lifts the natural sweetness of the watermelon without masking it, and that small pinch of salt makes the whole thing taste more alive. Poured over ice with a lime wedge on the rim, it's the kind of simple recipe that feels far more impressive than the effort involved.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 6 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes (about ½ small watermelon)
- 1 cup cold water
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 1 lime)
- 1–2 tbsp granulated sugar, or to taste
- ¼ tsp salt
For serving
- ice, for serving (optional)
- lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Add the watermelon cubes and cold water to a blender and blend on high until completely smooth, about 30–45 seconds.
- 2
Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large pitcher. Pour the blended watermelon through the strainer, pressing gently on the solids with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the pulp left in the strainer.
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