An Easy Watermelon Agua Fresca Recipe made with mint and no sugar using only 5 ingredients. This “agua de sandia” is a healthy, non-alcoholic Mexican watermelon drink that’s refreshing, 80 calories per serving with only 1 gram of fat. Takes minutes to prepare. The perfect melon water to enjoy by the pool on a hot summer day!
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Do you feel it? Summer is a comin’ and it’s about time to unpack that grill and dust off those barbecue recipes (like my Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger and my Carrot Dogs 4-Ways!) And, depending upon what part of the country you’re in, it’s also time for hotter weather that makes staying hydrated extremely important.
Never, fear, though, as I have something to wet your whistle that’s thirst-quenching, healthy and delicious, a triple winner doozy of a drink: my watermelon agua fresca with fresh mint and lime juice made with NO SUGAR, just the natural sweetness of agave nectar!
What is Agua Fresca?
Agua frescas, or translated to “fresh waters“, are a tradition in Mexico and are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. They are typically a combination of fruits, cereals, flowers or seeds blended with water and sugar to make a light, refreshing non-alcoholic beverage.
Why Make This Recipe?
Easy and quick – made in minutes in a standard blender using only 5 ingredients and filtered water. Can’t get any easier than that!
Diet-friendly – at 80 calories per serving and 1 gram of fat, this Mexican agua fresca is suitable for most diets, including vegan, vegetarian, low sodium (omit salt around the rim), low carbohydrate, low fat and low calorie.
Healthy – forget about vitamin waters that are loaded with sugar. This watermelon mint agua fresca has no added sugar and, because watermelon is 92% water, it helps you stay hydrated. In addition, it’s packed with nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin A and lycopene, an antioxidant linked to a decreased risk of cancer, heart disease, and age-related eye disorders. TIP: Read more from the Mayo Clinic about The Wonders of Watermelon.
Versatile – no watermelon? No problem. This recipe is so versatile, you can swap the watermelon for a host of other fruits, such as cantaloupe, mango or passionfruit. The recipe also pairs well with Mexican recipes like my Vegan Tinga Tacos, my Easy Enchilada Casserole and my Cilantro Lime Rice.
Budget-friendly – costs less than $10 to make so it’s great for folks on a budget (and who isn’t these days!)
Watermelon Agua Fresca Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Agave nectar – use in place of refined sugar to make agua fresca recipe healthier.
- Fresh mint – choose mint leaves that are dark green and vibrant for best results. If you don’t care for mint, you may omit this ingredient all together or minimize how many leaves you use in the recipe.
- Watermelon – I use seedless which still has some small white seeds. These do not need to be removed, as they blend easily in the blender during the process of preparing the drink.
- Fresh lime juice – if you don’t have fresh, you may substitute with bottled lime juice or use lemon instead.
- Sea salt – sea salt enhances the natural flavors of the drink. If you’re on a low sodium or salt-free diet, please omit.
Instructions
Step 1: Add all ingredients to a blender.
Step 2: Blend on high speed for 2-3 minutes, until mint is no longer visible.
To garnish: Pour some sea salt on a small plate. Take a lime wedge and rub it around the rim of your glass. Dip the rim in the salt, moving it back and forth until you get the desired amount of salt on the rim. Add ice. Pour watermelon water over ice. Garnish with fresh mint, a squirt of lime and a watermelon wedge.
Substitutions
- Sweetener – you may use any other sweetener if you don’t have agave nectar, such as Florida Crystals, Sugar in the Raw, or plain white sugar (although this is far less healthy)
- Mint – omit if you don’t care for mint and substitute with other herbs, such as rosemary or thyme.
- Lime juice – if you don’t have fresh lime, you can use bottled. Alternatively, you can use lemon instead of lime if you have that on hand.
- Watermelon – if seedless watermelon is unavailable in your area, just get a watermelon with seeds and strain the juice before pouring it into a glass or container.
- Sea salt – you can absolutely use regular salt in this recipe, or, you can omit it completely if you’re following a low sodium, or no added salt diet.
Variations
You can find many an agua fresca flavor in Mexico and varying your recipe with what you have on hand works in most cases. Here are some of Mexico’s most popular flavors:
- Cantaloupe
- Guava
- Papaya
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Passion fruit
- Cucumber
- Chia Seed
FAQ
Agua Fresca is a traditional Mexican drink, usually made with a combination of fruits and/or vegetables mixed with sugar and water to make a light, refreshing non-alcoholic beverage. My recipe is a simple, healthier version that replaces refined, processed sugar with organic, natural agave nectar, instead. To wrap it up, my watermelon agua fresca is made using only 5 ingredients: watermelon, agave, fresh mint and lime, and a pinch of sea salt. Plus a little filtered water!
That certainly depends upon what you put in it. Adding refined sugar is not the healthiest food choice, but replacing it with a substitute, like agave nectar, makes it healthier. Also keep in mind it only has 80 calories and 1 gram of fat per serving and is high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants making it a healthier choice than high sugar beverages.
Only if you add alcohol (which you definitely can!) Traditionally, they are non-alcoholic.
Horchata is a classic example of an Agua Fresca, made with rice, canela (Mexican cinnamon), sugar and water.
Many people do, and you can if you want to. I do not for several reasons. Straining robs this healthy beverage of its natural plant fibers along with precious vitamins and minerals that are found in abundance in the pulp.
No, if you’re on a sodium-free or restricted diet, you can omit the salt completely. However, you may add salt to enhance flavor, which is traditionally what salt is used for. You can also limit salt in the recipe by avoiding salt on the rims of the glasses.
Top Tips
- Before adding the watermelon to a blender, chop it in half, then scoop out large sections with a spoon to dice into smaller chunks. As you’re doing this, you’ll likely see an abundance of water inside your watermelon half. Don’t waste this fresh watermelon water; alternatively, add it to the blender for a more flavorful beverage
- For best results, serve chilled either from the refrigerator or over ice.
- If drink is too sweet, add a bit more lime juice.
- Watermelon Agua Fresca naturally separates when it sits for a while, either on the dinner table or in the refrigerator. Be sure to stir thoroughly before serving.
What Goes Good With This Recipe?
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Easy Watermelon Mint Aqua Fresca No Sugar
Equipment
- Blender
- Strainer if you prefer to strain
- Glasses
Ingredients
- 5 cups fresh watermelon seedless
- 1 cup filtered water
- 10 fresh mint leaves
- 2 limes juice expressed
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar or another sweetener of your choice
- ½ teaspoon sea salt optional; enhances flavor
Garnishes
- fresh lime slices
- mint leaves
- slices of watermelon
- sea salt for the rim
Instructions
For the Melon Water
- Add all ingredients to blender.
- Blend on high for several minutes until well-mixed.
To Garnish
- Pour some sea salt on a small plate. Take a lime wedge and rub it around the rim of your glass. Dip the rim in the salt, moving it back and forth until you get the desired amount of salt on the rim. Add ice. Pour watermelon water over ice. Garnish with fresh mint, a squirt of lime and a watermelon wedge.
Notes
- NOTE: Nutrition information is estimated.
- Before adding the watermelon to a blender, chop it in half, then scoop out large sections with a spoon to dice into smaller chunks. As you’re doing this, you’ll likely see an abundance of water inside your watermelon half. Don’t waste this fresh watermelon water; alternatively, add it to the blender for a more flavorful beverage
- For best results, serve chilled either from the refrigerator or over ice.
- If drink turns out too sweet, simply add a bit more lime juice and stir.
- Watermelon Agua Fresca naturally separates when it sits for a while, either on the dinner table or in the refrigerator. Be sure to stir thoroughly before serving.
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