Aguas Frescas (strawberry, Hibiscus, Watermelon) Recipe

Prepare strawberries

Rinse strawberries, remove hulls, and pat dry. Reserve a few whole berries for garnish if desired.

Blend

In a blender combine 2 cups hulled strawberries, 3 cups cold water, 3 tablespoons sugar, and 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice. Blend on high until smooth, about 30–45 seconds.

Strain

Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or chinois into a pitcher, pressing gently with a spatula to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard seeds and pulp or reserve for smoothies.

Adjust sweetness & chill

Taste and add more sugar or lime juice as needed. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes to chill, or serve immediately over ice (fill glasses with ice, pour, garnish with reserved strawberry and mint).

Serve: Makes about 4 servings. Stir before pouring to reincorporate any settled fruit.

Brew hibiscus

Place 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers in a heatproof bowl or pitcher. Pour 6 cups boiling water over the flowers, stir, and cover. Let steep for 15–20 minutes until deep magenta and fragrant.

Strain infusion

Strain the hibiscus liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pitcher, pressing flowers to extract liquid. Discard the spent flowers (or save small amounts for baking).

Sweeten & acidulate

While the infusion is still warm, stir in 1 cup granulated sugar until fully dissolved. Add 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, taste, and adjust sugar or lime to balance sourness. If too concentrated, add up to 1–2 cups cold water to reach desired intensity.

Chill & serve

Refrigerate until cold (at least 30 minutes). Serve over ice with lime slices and optional mint. Makes about 6–8 servings.

Prepare watermelon

Remove rind and any seeds from watermelon, then cube and chill the fruit. Reserve a few small cubes for garnish if desired.

Blend

In a blender, combine 6 cups chilled watermelon cubes, 1 cup cold water, 2 tablespoons sugar or honey, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, and a 1/4 teaspoon (pinch) salt. Blend until very smooth, about 20–30 seconds.

Strain (optional)

For a silky texture, strain the blended watermelon through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing to extract liquid. If you prefer a pulpy drink, skip this step.

Chill & serve

Taste and adjust sweetness or lime. Refrigerate until cold or serve immediately over ice. Garnish with basil or mint leaves and reserved watermelon cubes. Stir before serving.