Turkey Free Cucumber-Basil Watermelon Agua Fresca
This is the kind of drink that makes you feel like summer has arrived the moment it hits your glass. Juicy watermelon, cool cucumber, and fragrant fresh basil come together in a blender, then get strained into a silky, jewel-toned pitcher drink that's equal parts refreshing and impressive. A squeeze of lime and a touch of honey round out the flavor, giving you that perfect sweet-tart balance you can actually dial in to your own taste. Since this is a naturally plant-based, fruit-forward recipe, there's nothing to swap or second-guess — every ingredient is straightforward and easy to find. The straining step is what sets this apart from a basic smoothie, pulling out all the pulp and leaving behind a clean, restaurant-quality pour. Serve it over a big pile of ice with a sprig of basil or a thin cucumber wheel on the rim and it looks like something you'd pay way too much for at a trendy brunch spot. It's an effortless crowd-pleaser that works just as well for a backyard cookout as it does for a quiet afternoon on the porch.
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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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