Beef Free Cucumber-Basil Watermelon Agua Fresca
Summer in a glass doesn't get much more refreshing than this blended watermelon drink with cucumber, fresh basil, and a bright hit of lime. The combination sounds fancy, but it comes together in a blender with just a handful of produce and a drizzle of honey — no cooking required. Straining the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve gives you a silky, restaurant-quality texture that's worlds away from chunky smoothie territory. The basil adds an herby, almost floral note that makes the whole thing feel a little unexpected and a lot more interesting than plain watermelon juice. A pinch of sea salt and fresh lime juice keep the sweetness in check, so it tastes balanced rather than cloying. It's naturally free of any animal proteins, making it an effortless crowd-pleaser for mixed gatherings without a single substitution needed. Serve it over ice with a sprig of basil and you've got something that looks as good as it tastes.
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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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