AGUA FRESCA
About 3 cups; 6 servings
Agua fresca, Spanish for “cool water,” is a way of distilling the essence of ripe fruit into a refreshing summer drink. For a boozy version, frost the rim of each glass with coarse salt. Add several ice cubes to the glass and pour ½ cup agua fresca over them. Add 1 to 2 ounces vodka, rum, or tequila. Serve with a lime wedge or a piece of the fruit the agua fresca was made with.
Place in a blender (using the larger amount of water for fruits that don’t release enough liquid to blend easily):
- 4 cups cubed, seeded fruit such as cantaloupe, peach, mango, pineapple, watermelon, honeydew, or cucumber
- ¼ to ½ cup water
Depending on the fruit, you may need to add even more water than called for above. Blend until very smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing the solids to extract all the juice. Whisk in:
- 1 to 3 tablespoons honey, warmed slightly, or to taste
- 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice, or to taste
Chill thoroughly. To serve, stir together equal parts fruit juice and:
- Sparkling water