Agua de sandía is a captivatingly refreshing drink with bright flavors and vibrant colors of the tropics. This watermelon agua fresca is a family favorite and is the perfect refreshing treat on those warm days of summer.
Agua de sandía is a refreshing Mexican drink made from watermelon (sandía in Spanish), water, and sugar. It is similar to other fruit-based aguas frescas that are commonly served throughout Mexico.
To make agua de sandia, ripe watermelon chunks are blended with water, lime juice, and sugar, and then strained to remove any solids. The resulting liquid is chilled and served over ice, often garnished with a sprig of mint or a slice of lime.
We can say that this watermelon agua fresca is a mix between watermelon juice and a smoothie, but it tastes a lot better! Is the perfect summer drink for adults and kids.
Love aguas frescas? Try also our Agua de Melón or this agua de naranja recipes!
Ingredients
- Watermelon: You will need ripe watermelon (sandía), preferably seedless, which will provide the flavor and sweetness of the drink.
- Water: Water is added to the watermelon to make a liquid that is easy to blend and drink.
- Sugar: I used a small amount of brown sugar to enhance the sweetness of the watermelon. Feel free to substitute with your favorite sweeteners. I recommend agave syrup or stevia.
- Lime juice (optional): Our recipe includes a splash of lime juice to add a hint of tartness to the drink.
How To Make Agua de Sandía
Cut the watermelon into chunks discarding the skin and seeds. You can also leave the seeds on but you will need to strain the mixture before.
Add watermelon chunks to a blender, pour two cups of water, and blend until smooth. The longer you blend, the smoother the mixture will be.
Strain the watermelon mixture into a large pitcher. You can also add it as it is, but this can be done only if you removed the seeds from the fruit.
Top Tip: Straining the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve can help remove any remaining solids and ensure that the agua de sandía has a smooth, uniform texture.
Add lime juice and sugar. Stir vigorously until the sugar has dissolved, then add more water to dilute the drink.
Adjust sweet to taste if you want by adding more sugar, then place your watermelon water in the fridge until chilled or serve in glasses over crushed ice.
Tips and Notes
- When you add the sugar make sure the water is at room temperature so it can dissolve easily and fast. If you use cold water, dissolving sugar can be a hard task and you don’t want sugar grains in your fresca.
- Ad as much water as is needed to make this agua de sandia a light drink and not a slushie or a smoothie drink.
- I prefer my frescas to be super smooth and don’t have fruit bites so I strain the blend, always. If you prefer a more fruity texture, go ahead and add the mixture to the pitcher without straining.
- If you want to make this watermelon agua fresca ahead of time, do not add ice to the pitcher or you will end with a bland drink after the ice has melted. Place the pitcher in the fridge instead and only add ice right before serving.
- Alternatively, you can omit the added sweetener altogether and let the natural sweetness of the watermelon shine through.
- You can garnish your watermelon agua fresca with diced watermelon, lime slices, or fresh mint leaves.
Foods To Pair With
Agua de sandía is a refreshing and light beverage that pairs well with a variety of foods, particularly those that are spicy or savory. Here are some ideas for foods to pair with:
- Tacos: This drink pair well with tacos, whether they are made with meat, fish, or vegetables. Try our blue corn tacos with zucchini or this authentic tacos de bistec recipe.
- Salads: Watermelon agua fresca can be a great accompaniment to fresh salads, particularly those that include salty or tangy ingredients like this salpicón de res or this creamy ensalada de coditos.
- Seafood: This refreshing drink can also be a good pairing with seafood dishes, particularly those that are spicy or acidic, such as aguachile de camarón or ceviche de pescado.
- Spicy snacks: If you’re looking for a refreshing drink to help cool down the heat of spicy snacks like pepinos locos or tostilocos, this is it!
Overall, this is a versatile beverage that can complement a wide range of foods, particularly those with bold or spicy flavors.
FAQ
What is agua fresca?
Aguas frescas (plural) are Mexican non-alcoholic beverages usually made with fruit. In Mexico, you can find them in the streets, markets, and ice cream parlors. They’re super refreshing and perfect to cool down during hot days, like this Agua de limón & chía.
How long last?
Agua de sandía last up to 3 days in the fridge. Make sure to store it in a jar with a tight lid or in a pitcher to keep the drink fresh and flavorful.
Is watermelon agua fresca good for you?
Agua de sandía can be a healthy beverage option, as it is made primarily from watermelon and water, which are both hydrating and low in calories. Watermelon is also a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as potassium and other beneficial nutrients.
Can I freeze watermelon chunks?
Yes! and is actually a good idea because this way you can make this recipe whenever you crave it. To do so, place the chunks on a flat plate and freeze until firm, transfer the chunks to a bag, and store them in the freezer for up to 4 months. I oftent do this with pineapple to make agua de piña.
More Agua Fresca Recipes
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Video
Agua de Sandía (watermelon agua fresca)
Equipment
- Blender
- Large pitcher or jar
Ingredients
- 2 ½ lb watermelon (chunks, seeds removed)
- 8 ½ cups water
- 1 lime (juice)
- ¼ cup brown sugar (or your favorite sweetener)
- ice (as needed)
Instructions
- Add watermelon to a blender, pour two cups of water, and blend until smooth.
- Strain watermelon mixture into a large pitcher.
- Add lime juice and the remaining water.
- Add sugar to taste mixing thoroughly to dissolve it before adding more.
- Serve in glasses over crushed ice or store the pitcher in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.
Notes
- When you add the sugar make sure the water is at room temperature so it can dissolve easily and fast.
- Ad as much water as is needed to make the fresca actually a light drink and not a slushie or a smoothie drink.
- I prefer my frescas to be super smooth and don’t have fruit bites so I always strain the mixture.
- If you want to make this watermelon fresca ahead of time, do not add ice to the pitcher or you will end with a bland drink after the ice has melted. Place the pitcher in the fridge instead and only add ice right before serving.
- Don’t sure about adding sugar? No worries, this agua de sandía is delicious as it is. Omit the sugar and you still will have a refreshing and delicious drink.
- You can garnish your drink with diced watermelon, lime slices, or fresh mint leaves.
This looks so good!!! Def. Going to try this!!!