Paleo Cucumber-Basil Watermelon Agua Fresca
Few drinks capture the feeling of summer quite like a cold, fruit-forward agua fresca, and this version layers juicy watermelon with crisp cucumber and fragrant fresh basil for something genuinely special. The lime juice brightens everything up, while a touch of honey rounds out the sweetness without tipping it into candy territory. Every single ingredient here is whole and unprocessed, so it fits naturally into a grain-free, refined-sugar-free way of eating without any substitutions or workarounds. You simply blend, strain, and chill — no cooking, no complicated technique, just clean flavors doing all the heavy lifting. The fine-mesh straining step is worth the extra minute; it gives the finished drink a silky, almost elegant texture that feels far more refined than the effort involved. Serve it over a big glass of ice with a sprig of basil tucked in and it looks like something from a nice restaurant patio. It's the kind of drink that disappears fast, so consider doubling the batch before guests arrive.
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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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