Watermelon Mint Lemonade
Summer time and lemonade just go together. Nothing beats an iced glass of refreshing lemonade on a hot summer day to help you cool down and enjoy a summer afternoon or evening. This watermelon mint lemonade is quick and easy to prepare.
If you enjoy lemonade, this recipe is sure to be one of your favorites. You will love tinkering around with this recipe to find the right flavor combination for your tastes. For example, you will need to adjust the amount of water you need to add depending on how juicy the watermelon is and how strong you want the flavor to be.
Remember, when making this recipe, the watermelon adds a lot of sweetness. You may decide you don’t wish to sweeten it further. If you do want to try the sweeter drink, directions for a mint-infused simple syrup are included. You may need a few tries to decide how sweet you want the final drink to be.
If you serve this recipe outside on a warm day, make a little extra so you can freeze some into ice cubes or an ice ring (if serving in a punch bowl). To prevent watered-down drinks, use ice cubes made of the beverage you are serving rather than plain water especially on hot afternoons and evenings.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes (optional)
Ingredients:
Mint Simple Syrup (optional)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves tightly packed with stems removed and crushed
Lemonade
6 cups fresh watermelon, cut into chunks with the rinds removed
¾ cups fresh lemon juice (6-8 medium lemons)
½ cup cold water (add more, if needed)
½ cup fresh mint leaves, packed tightly and stems removed
fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (if desired)
lemon slices, for garnish (if desired)
Directions:
Start by making the simple syrup. First add the sugar, crushed mint leaves and water to a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Mix until the sugar dissolves completely. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes. After removing from heat, discard the mint leaves. Allow mixture to cool completely before using.
While the Mint Simple Syrup is cooling, add the lemon juice, watermelon chunks, and ½ cup cold water to a blender and blend until liquefied. Using a fine mesh strainer, pour through the strainer to remove any larger particles. Do a taste test and add more water, if needed. Use the mint-infused simple syrup to sweeten, if desired.
Release the oils from the mint leaves by bruising ½ cup fresh mint leaves with your fingers, then add to the bottom of a large glass pitcher or jar. When ready to serve, add ice cubes to the container and pour the watermelon mixture over top. Fresh lemon slices can be added to the mixture for garnish.
To serve, pour over ice and add a sprig of fresh mint and a lemon slice for garnish.
Grab your favorite glass, find a nice place to relax (under a shady tree with a nice hammock?), and enjoy this refreshing summer drink.
Your turn…
What’s your favorite lemonade flavor? How do you stay cool on hot summer days?
