Capsaicin Free Cucumber-Basil Watermelon Agua Fresca
Summer drinks can be a minefield when you're avoiding capsaicin, since so many "refreshing" beverages sneak in chili-infused syrups, spiced fruit blends, or tajín-rimmed glasses. This agua fresca sidesteps all of that completely, leaning on ripe watermelon, cool cucumber, and fragrant fresh basil for a drink that is genuinely vibrant without a hint of heat. The lime juice and honey create a sweet-tart balance you can dial in to your own taste, and that pinch of sea salt quietly amplifies every other flavor in the glass. Blending everything smooth and then straining it through a fine-mesh sieve gives you a silky, jewel-toned drink that looks like something from a fancy café. It is the kind of thing you make once and then find yourself craving on every warm afternoon. Serve it over a big pile of ice with a sprig of basil on top and it is genuinely hard to believe how little effort went into it.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
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.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!