Watermelon Lemonade Refreshingly Sweet Summer (Printable Version)

Light, thirst-quenching summer drink with natural watermelon sweetness and zesty lemon.

# What You Need:

→ Fruit

01 - 4 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
02 - 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (approximately 4-5 lemons)

→ Sweetener

03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar or agave syrup, adjust to taste

→ Liquids

04 - 2 cups cold water
05 - Ice cubes, as needed

→ Garnish

06 - Fresh lemon slices
07 - Fresh mint sprigs

# How-To Steps:

01 - Add cubed watermelon to blender and process until completely smooth, approximately 30-45 seconds.
02 - Pour watermelon puree through fine mesh sieve into large pitcher, pressing with spoon to extract juice and remove fibrous pulp. Discard pulp or reserve for another use.
03 - Add fresh lemon juice and sweetener to pitcher. Stir vigorously for 1-2 minutes until sweetener fully dissolves.
04 - Pour in cold water and mix thoroughly. Taste beverage and adjust sweetness with additional sweetener or acidity with more lemon juice as desired.
05 - Refrigerate for minimum 1 hour to allow flavors to meld, or serve immediately over ice. Garnish glasses with lemon slices and fresh mint sprigs before serving.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • The natural sweetness from watermelon means you can go lighter on added sugar while still getting that perfect balance
  • It comes together in literally 15 minutes, making it the ultimate last minute solution for unexpected guests or your own sudden craving
  • The color alone makes everything feel like a celebration, plus it is naturally vegan and gluten free without even trying
02 -
  • The first time I skipped straining the pulp, I ended up with a texture that felt weird and chunky, so do not skip that step even if it seems unnecessary
  • Fresh lemon juice makes or breaks this recipe, and I served a disappointing batch once when I tried to cut corners with bottled juice
  • Taste your watermelon before you start because some are sweeter than others, and you might need way less added sugar than you expect
03 -
  • Chill your pitcher in the freezer for ten minutes before pouring in the lemonade, and it stays colder much longer
  • If your watermelon is not perfectly ripe, add a splash of orange juice to round out the flavor profile

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