Watermelon Lemonade
15 min
|
easy
|
gluten-free,
lactose-free,
low-fat,
vegan,
vegetarian
Recipe by Eunice
Introduction
This watermelon lemonade is summer in a glass, bright and juicy with real fruit and just the right tang so you keep refilling without thinking twice.
Blend and pour for cookouts, picnics, and backyard grill nights; it is kid-friendly as is, plays nice with a splash of vodka for the adults, and beats any pink mix on flavor.
Ingredients (4 servings)
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Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh watermelon (cubed, seeds removed) small fresh watermelon 0.27 ct
- ¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice lemons 4 ct (for freshly squeezed lemon juice)
- ½ cup granulated sugar granulated sugar
- 2 cups cold water water
- ice ice
How to Make Watermelon Lemonade
-
Chill everything
Pop the watermelon, lemons, and water in the fridge so your lemonade starts cold and needs less ice dilution.
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Dissolve the sugar
Stir the granulated sugar into the fresh lemon juice until mostly dissolved to avoid sandy sweetness in the final drink.
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Blend the watermelon
Add the cubed watermelon to a blender and puree until completely smooth with a fine foam on top.
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Strain for silky texture
Pour the puree through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher if you want a smoother sip, or skip straining for extra body and fiber.
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Combine and balance
Stir the watermelon juice, lemon sugar mixture, and cold water together, then taste and adjust with a pinch of salt to make the flavors pop.
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Serve over ice
Fill glasses with ice, pour the lemonade, and finish with a lemon wheel or a slap of fresh mint if you are feeling cute.
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Optional slushy route
For a frosty vibe, freeze some watermelon cubes and blend with part of the water and lemon mixture until just slushy.
Substitutions
- Granulated sugar -> honey or agave
- Use 6 to 7 tablespoons honey or agave for similar sweetness, which adds a rounder, floral finish and dissolves easily in lemon juice.
- Lemon juice -> lime juice
- Swap equal amounts for a sharper, tropical brightness that plays well with watermelon without dulling the color.
- Cold water -> sparkling water
- Replace some or all of the still water with chilled seltzer to keep the drink light and zippy without extra sweetness.
Tips
- Pick a ripe watermelon
- Choose one that feels heavy for its size with a creamy yellow field spot and a dull rind, which signals juicy, sweet flesh.
- Use the salt trick
- Just a pinch of fine salt wakes up sweetness and citrus so you can keep sugar in check without tasting salty.
- Make a smooth concentrate
- Dissolve the sugar fully in the lemon juice and store that with strained watermelon juice as a concentrate, then add cold water right before serving.
- Freeze watermelon cubes for ice
- Freeze extra watermelon in cubes to use as ice that will not water down your glass as it melts.
- Strain smart
- If your blender leaves pulp, strain once and let it drip without pressing so the lemonade stays clear instead of cloudy.
- Zesty sugar rub
- Rub lemon zest into the sugar before mixing to perfume the whole pitcher without adding bitterness.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 157 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 1 | g |
| Total Fat | 0 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 40 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- Why does my lemonade taste bland?
- Your watermelon might be under-ripe, so add a small squeeze more lemon for contrast, a pinch of salt, and 1 to 2 tablespoons extra sugar or honey to round it out.
- It is too sweet or too tart, how do I fix it?
- If too sweet, add cold water and a little more lemon juice; if too tart, stir in 1 tablespoon sugar or honey at a time until balanced.
- Can I use bottled lemon juice?
- Yes in a pinch, but taste it first since some are sharper or duller, and consider a touch of lemon zest to bring back fresh aroma.
- What if I do not have a blender?
- Grate the watermelon on the large holes of a box grater or mash thoroughly, then strain through a fine mesh sieve for a smooth base.
- How long does it keep?
- Store chilled without ice for up to 2 days, and stir before serving since natural separation is normal.
- Can I make it for a crowd ahead of time?
- Yes, mix the concentrate of lemon, sugar, and strained watermelon up to 24 hours ahead and add cold water and ice right before guests show up.
- Can I spike it for adults?
- Sure, add 1 to 1.5 ounces chilled vodka, white rum, or tequila per 8 ounces lemonade, and keep alcohol cold so ice does not rush to melt.
Serving Suggestions
Pitcher on the table, a mint bouquet crushed in your palm, and a chili-lime salt rim will turn this into a salty-sour-sweet situation that sips like summer in the city.
Pair with grilled shrimp, feta and cucumber salad, or a bowl of salty potato chips, and if you want bubbles, swap half the water for seltzer right before pouring.
Reviews
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Kenyonjennifer: The recipe is really good just in my opinion add less lemon juice, too lemony with 3/4 cup,
: Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jennifer; next time you can start with less lemon juice and add more to taste.
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Meghan, Highlands Ranch CO: Big hit, family loved it
: Happy to hear it was a hit with your family, Meghan!
Made this recipe? How did it go?
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