Agua Fresca

Indie Suresh

Beat the BA heat with a cool, refreshing agua fresca! These fruity drinks have been a staple summer treat since the Aztec first muddled fruit from Tenochtitlán waterways with water. Their simplicity and unbeatable thirst-quenching power have made the m a go-to beverage of international acclaim. If you have some fruit hanging out in the back of your fridge, give this recipe a try!

Ingredients (makes 4 cups)

- 2 cups of your favorite fresh fruit(s), chopped

For inspiration, some of the classic sabores are watermelon and cucumber.

- 2 cups of cold water

- 2-4 tbsp sugar or other sweetener (opt.)

- Squeeze of fresh lime juice (opt.)

- Ice cubes and your garnish of choice to serve (opt.)

For your garnish, keep it simple with a slice of the fruit you blended, a lime wedge, or a muddled fresh herb (e.g. mint, basil, rosemary, thyme).

Kitchen Equipment: All the tools you will need to realize your agua fresca dreams.

- Knife: To peel (if needed) and chop your fruit

- Blender: To combine all of your ingredients

- Sieve: To strain seeds and pulp after blending

The Method: Let’s put it all together.

1. Add the chopped fruit and water to your blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Work in batches if your ingredients fill more than 3⁄4 of your blender!

2. Strain the mixture through a sieve to remove pulp, fibers, or seeds. If you want a really smooth agua fresca, you can strain again through a fine mesh sieve or through some cheesecloth.

3. Pour the mixture into a pitcher (or other large container) and taste for sweetness and acidity. Add sweetener and lime juice to your taste and stir until fully dissolved. Chill until you are ready to serve.

4. Prepare your garnishes!

Note: If you’re adding herbs, muddle them in a bowl or glass before adding them to your serving glasses. If you don’t have a muddler for this, you can press down and twist with the back of a wooden spoon or other blunt handle until the herbs are fragrant.

5. When it’s time to agua fresca, add ice (and the muddled herbs if using) to your glasses and pour over the chilled beverage. Top with your garnishes and enjoy!