Bity
This frozen watermelon agua fresca is the drink I make the moment the weather turns hot. Ice, chopped watermelon, water and a little sugar go into the blender for two minutes, and out comes a frosty, pale pink slush that tastes like the coldest slice of melon you have ever eaten.
In short, frozen watermelon agua fresca is a Mexican style fruit drink made by blending 4 cups of ice, 2 cups of chopped watermelon, 1 cup of water and 1/3 cup of sugar for about 2 minutes into a thick, frosty slush. It takes 5 minutes from start to finish, serves 3 (about 14 ounces each) and comes to about 116 calories per serving, so drink it straight away, before the ice melts.
I first tried an agua fresca from a big glass barrel at a street market on a sticky August afternoon, and I have been chasing that feeling ever since. Traditional versions are poured over ice; mine blends the ice right in, so it is thick enough to need a straw and stays cold right to the bottom of the glass.
Quick Breakdown
Why You’ll Love This Watermelon Agua Fresca
- Five minutes, one blender. No juicing, no straining and no syrup to cook.
- Four everyday ingredients. Ice, watermelon, water and sugar. The mint and melon wedges are just for show.
- Light and refreshing. It is mostly ice and fruit, so it feels far lighter than a milkshake or fizzy drink.
- Kid and grown up friendly. Children love it as a slushie, and adults can turn it into a party drink.
- Pretty in the glass. In fact, the fruit settles into a deeper pink at the bottom, so every glass looks like it came from a café.
Ingredient Notes
- Ice. 4 cups. Regular cubes are fine; crushed ice blends a little faster if your blender is on the gentle side.
- Watermelon. 2 cups, chopped, rind and as many seeds as possible removed. Seedless melon makes life easy. Want a stronger melon flavour? Simply add more.
- Water. 1 cup, to get the blades moving.
- Sugar. 1/3 cup. It sweetens, of course, but it also keeps the ice smooth and stops it clumping into a solid block. If you want to skip it, use a granulated sweetener such as monk fruit.
- To garnish (optional). Small watermelon wedges and mint sprigs.
The sweeter your melon, the better your drink. The Watermelon Board’s simple look, lift and turn method for choosing a ripe watermelon is the one I use: firm, heavy for its size, with a creamy yellow ground spot underneath.
What Is Agua Fresca?
Agua fresca means fresh water in Spanish. It is a light Mexican drink made by blending fruit with water and a little sugar, sold from huge glass jars at markets, taco stands and street corners. Watermelon, known as agua de sandía, is one of the most popular flavours, alongside cantaloupe, pineapple, hibiscus and horchata.
So is it just watered down juice? Not really. Juice is pressed fruit on its own, while an agua fresca is deliberately lighter and more thirst quenching, closer to a fruity water than a breakfast juice.
Frozen or Classic?
| Frozen (this recipe) | Classic | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Ice blended in with the fruit | Fruit blended with water, often strained, served over ice |
| Texture | Thick, frosty slush | Thin and pourable |
| Make ahead | No, drink straight away | Yes, chills well in a jug |
| Best for | Hot afternoons and parties | Big batches and dinners |
How To Make Watermelon Agua Fresca
1. Load the blender. First, add the ice, chopped watermelon, sugar and water to your blender. I put the ice in first and the melon on top, as you can see in the photos.
2. Blend until smooth. Next, blend for about 2 minutes, or until there are no more chunks of ice. At first the blades may spin without catching; stop, give everything a stir with a long spoon or use the tamper, then carry on.
3. Pour and garnish. Then pour into glasses straight away. Finally, if you feel like it, perch a mini wedge of watermelon on the rim and tuck in a sprig of mint. Serve with a straw.
Why Is My Drink Chunky or Watery?
A chunky or watery agua fresca nearly always comes down to blending time, too little sugar or letting it sit. Blend for about 2 minutes until no ice chunks remain, keep the full 1/3 cup of sugar and pour it straight away. These are the usual fixes:
- Chunks of ice. Keep blending a little longer, and help the blender along by stirring when it first starts. A splash more water also helps.
- Ice clumped together. That usually means too little sugar. As a result, the ice freezes into lumps instead of a smooth slush.
- Too thin and watery. It sat too long, or the blender ran so long it warmed up. Add a handful of ice and blitz briefly.
- Bland flavour. Your melon was not sweet enough. Add more watermelon rather than more sugar.
Tips for the Best Watermelon Agua Fresca
- Chill the chopped watermelon in the fridge first, so the ice melts less while blending.
- Chill your glasses too; it keeps the slush frosty for longer on a hot day.
- Taste before pouring. Melons vary a lot, so add a little more fruit for a stronger flavour.
- Cut the garnish wedges small, about 2 inches, with a little notch so they sit neatly on the rim.
Blending for a crowd? Pour each batch straight into a chilled 2 quart glass pitcher and serve it within a few minutes, while it is still thick and frosty.
Can You Make It Ahead?
Honestly, no. Frozen watermelon agua fresca does not keep, and if you blend it ahead and freeze it you will end up with a solid pink brick. That said, you can prep everything: chop the melon and keep it in the fridge for up to a day, and keep a bag of ice ready. Then it is a two minute job when friends arrive.
Watermelon is about 92 percent water, so this is a fun way to top up fluids on hot days. Harvard’s Nutrition Source notes that about 20 percent of our water comes from foods like melons and other fruit. Because it does contain sugar, though, I treat it as a summer treat rather than an everyday drink.
Variations and Substitutions
- Lime. Add the juice of half a lime for a sharper, more classic flavour.
- Cucumber. Swap a third of the melon for peeled cucumber for an extra cool version.
- Strawberry. Replace half a cup of melon with hulled strawberries.
- Lower sugar. Use monk fruit or a similar granulated sweetener, since it still helps keep the ice smooth.
- Grown up version. Add a shot of tequila or white rum per glass for a frozen cocktail.
- Something green? If you love blender drinks, try my green juice for a morning pick-me-up.
What to Serve With Watermelon Agua Fresca
For a summer lunch in the garden, I pour it alongside a big bowl of watermelon salad with feta and mint. It is also perfect with spicy or salty food, which it cools down beautifully.
Try it with crispy popcorn chicken for a party, or with a homemade doner kebab on a Friday night. Tacos, grilled corn and chips with salsa are classic partners too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ingredients and Method
How do you make watermelon agua fresca?
Blend 4 cups of ice, 2 cups of chopped watermelon, 1 cup of water and 1/3 cup of sugar for about 2 minutes until smooth, then pour and garnish with mint and a small wedge of melon.
Can you make agua fresca without sugar?
Yes. Use a granulated sugar alternative such as monk fruit sweetener in place of the 1/3 cup of sugar. Some sweetness is needed, though, because it keeps the ice from clumping into a solid block instead of a smooth slush.
Can you use frozen watermelon for agua fresca?
Yes. Use frozen cubes in place of some of the ice so the drink does not get too thick, and add a splash more water if the blender struggles.
Serving and Storing
How long does watermelon agua fresca last?
Only a few minutes. This frozen version is best drunk within a few minutes of blending, before the slush melts and separates. A classic, ice free agua fresca keeps in the fridge for about two days.
Is watermelon agua fresca good for you?
It is a light, hydrating treat rather than a health drink. Watermelon is about 92 percent water and the drink is made with real fruit, but each batch also has 1/3 cup of added sugar. Reduce the sugar if your melon is very sweet.
Can you double this agua fresca recipe?
Yes, if your blender is big enough to hold 8 cups of ice plus the fruit. Otherwise blend in two batches so the ice breaks down evenly, and pour each batch into a chilled pitcher.
Can you freeze watermelon agua fresca?
No, not once it is blended, because it sets into a solid pink brick. Instead, chop the watermelon up to a day ahead, keep it in the fridge with a bag of ice ready, and blend for 2 minutes when you want to serve.
Can you add alcohol to agua fresca?
Yes. Add a shot of tequila or white rum per glass for a frozen cocktail. Stir it into each glass after blending, so you can keep some alcohol free for children.
How many calories are in watermelon agua fresca?
About 116 calories per 14 ounce serving without garnish, with roughly 30 g carbohydrates and 28 g sugar. These figures are estimates.
Ingredients
- 4 cups ice
- 2 cups watermelon chopped
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup sugar
- small watermelon wedges optional garnish
- mint sprigs optional garnish
Instructions
- Add the ice, chopped watermelon, sugar and water to a blender and blend for 2 minutes or until there are no more chunks of ice.
- Pour into glasses and top with a mini wedge of watermelon and a mint sprig, if you like, and enjoy right away.
