How to Make Agua Fresca! Aguas Frescas translates to “cool waters.” These are made from watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew. This Mexican refreshing beverage, is perfect for a hot, summer day.
During the summer when temperatures are scorching, I can’t recommend these Aguas Frescas enough. Agua frescas will forever be one of my favorite things about getting Mexican food in LA. And even though there are ppl on TikTok calling this “spa water,” I’m here to say they are 100% wrong lol.
I shared these recipes in The Year of Cozy but didn’t include the honeydew. Instead, I think there was a recipe for jamaica in there. Man, that book was so long ago. I was thumbing through it the other day and there are SO many things I’d do differently. I think that’s how any creative project goes.
What is Agua Fresca?
Let’s talk about agua frescas. They originate in Mexico and translate literally to be “cool waters.” They have other flavors too like tamarindo, agua de horchata and cucumber. They’ll quench and any thirst and they’re amazing on a super hot day.
What Fruit is Good for Aguas Frescas?
- Honeydew Melon
- Canteloupe
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Cucumber
Another agua fresca that I love is made from the leaves and that’s jamaica/hibiscus flowers.
Equipment You’ll need to Make Agua Fresca?
The equipment is super simple and streamlined. You’ll need:
- A blender. I love my high-powered blender which is a Vitamix (in the past I’ve had a Ninja and loved that, too).
- Strainer or sieve (this will help with removing the pulp from the blended juice)
How to Make Agua Fresca?
- Whatever fruit you’re using, add it to the blender.
- Depending on how sweet the fruit naturally is, you may need to add or not add sugar. With watermelon, I hardly ever add sugar.
- Pulse until it’s all blended up.
- Pour the mixture through a strainer, allowing it drain. If you like, you can help it go faster with a big spoon.
- Give the agua fresca a taste and adjust the sugar according to your liking.
- Transfer it to a pitcher and place it in the fridge for 1 hour. As a result, it’ll be super cold and perfect when poured over ice.
If you make them, be sure to let me know on Instagram!
Aguas Frescas Recipe
Ingredients
Honeydew Agua Fresca:
- 4 pound honeydew flesh chopped up, seeds and skin discarded
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons pure cane sugar
- Juice from 1 lime
Watermelon Agua Fresca
- 3 to 5 pound seedless watermelon cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons sugar if needed
Cantaloupe Agua Fresca:
- 4 pound cantaloupe flesh and seeds scooped out
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons pure cane sugar
- Juice from 1 lime
Instructions
To Make Honeydew Agua Fresca:
- Place a medium-fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. You most likely will need to do this in batches (I have a pretty big blender and had to do it in batches).
- To a blender, add the honeydew, water, sugar and lime juice. Pulse until completely smooth and pureed. Pour the mixture into the strainer, allowing it to drain. Feel free to help it along by stirring it with a whisk. Give it a taste and add any more sugar, if needed. Transfer it to pitcher and place in the fridge to chill.
To Make Watermelon Agua Fresca:
- Place a medium-fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. You most likely will need to do this in batches (I have a pretty big blender and had to do it in batches).
- To a blender, add the cubed watermelon and water. Pulse until pureed and very smooth. Give it a taste; adjust the sugar accordingly. If it’s at the beginning of the summer, you may need to add a bit of sugar, toward the end of the season, the watermelons will be super sweet and will need none at all.
- Pour the mixture through a strainer and into a pitcher, pressing the watermelon pulp with the back of a spoon to release any excess juices. Transfer to the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour.
To Make Cantaloupe Agua Fresca:
- Place a medium-fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. You most likely will need to do this in batches (I have a pretty big blender and had to do it in batches).
- To a blender, add the cantaloupe flesh, its seeds, water, sugar and lime juice. Pulse until completely smooth and pureed. Pour the mixture into the strainer, allowing it to drain. Feel free to help it along by stirring it with a whisk. Give it a taste and add any more sugar, if needed. Transfer it to pitcher and place in the fridge to chill.
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
Need some Mexican-inspired recipes that will complement these Aguas Frescas?
- Jackfruit Tinga Tacos
- Mulitas
- Instant Pot Tortilla Soup
- Camarones a la Diabla
- Chilaquiles
- Crispy Chicken Taquitos
- Birria Tacos
I’ve got two questions, but first I just wanted to say congratulations and keep up the great work! I love your book, and just happened to wind up here by chance after looking for some Agua Fresca recipes.
1. Why do you add the seeds with the cantaloupe flesh, while they are discarded from the honeydew?
2. How long do you suppose they’d keep, refrigerated in a sealed bottle? (Psh, like I’m not gonna down it all the second it’s ready!)
Thanks again!
Kate
Oh thank you so much! I keep the seeds in with the cantaloupe because I believe they give off a nice almond flavor. I’d say they’d keep for about 3 days. Let me know how they go! 🙂
Just made the watermelon agua fresca and it’s so good! More cost effective than buying watermelon juice from the shop downtown, and no more work to make it than to drive all the way there. Watermelon is my fave thing about summer.
yassss! so much more cost effective. you get so much more for your money! and i can drink so much watermelon juice. haha. it truly is the best thing about summer. 🙂
Such a great idea! I love how easy they are! Also beautiful pictures as always. Thanks for sharing!
Coco| pjsandstuff.wordpress.com
Yes! Watermelon agua Fresca at the flower market is a Saturday morning well spent to me! Gonna miss that about LA. But now I can make my own!