Low Iodine Cucumber-Basil Watermelon Agua Fresca
Bright, refreshing, and built entirely from whole fruits and herbs, this agua fresca is a dream for anyone navigating iodine restrictions. Watermelon and English cucumber bring natural sweetness and serious hydration, while fresh basil adds an herby, almost floral note that makes this feel far more special than a simple blended drink. A squeeze of lime and a touch of honey round out the flavor so beautifully that you won't miss anything. Because every ingredient here is a whole, unprocessed plant food or natural sweetener, there's no need to scrutinize labels for iodized salt or hidden additives — the recipe even calls for fine sea salt, which is the go-to choice when keeping iodine low. Blending everything smooth and straining it through a fine-mesh sieve gives you a silky, jewel-toned drink that looks stunning poured over ice with a sprig of basil on top. It's the kind of thing you'll want to keep a pitcher of in the fridge all week.
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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
Chef's tipFine sea salt and table salt measure the same - no conversion needed. - 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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