Barley Free Cucumber-Basil Watermelon Agua Fresca
This is the kind of drink that makes you feel like summer has officially arrived — cool, fragrant, and just a little unexpected. Ripe watermelon and crisp English cucumber get blended together with fresh basil, bright lime juice, and a touch of honey, then strained into a pitcher of pure, jewel-toned refreshment. The basil is the secret weapon here, adding a floral, slightly peppery note that keeps this from tasting like a basic fruit punch. Everything gets blended smooth and pressed through a fine-mesh strainer, so the final result is silky and clean with no pulpy texture to deal with. A short chill in the fridge lets the flavors settle and meld before you pour it over ice. Since this is made entirely from fresh produce, honey, and lime, there's nothing processed or grain-derived sneaking in — just whole, simple ingredients you can feel good about. Dress it up with a sprig of basil or a few thin cucumber slices and it's honestly impressive enough to serve at a party.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 6 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes (about ½ small watermelon)
- 1 medium english cucumber, peeled and roughly chopped
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1–2 tbsp honey, or to taste
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 cup cold water
For serving
- ice, for serving
- fresh basil sprigs or thin cucumber slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Add the watermelon cubes, chopped cucumber, basil leaves, lime juice, honey, salt, and cold water to a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 45–60 seconds.
- 2
Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large pitcher. Pour the blended mixture through the strainer in batches, pressing gently on the solids with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
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