Watermelon Lemonade
Ingredients
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- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water – for syrup
- 8 cups watermelon – rind removed, cubed
- 8 lemons – juiced (to yield 1 cup)
- 1 cup water – cold
- ice – for serving
- mint leaves – for serving
Instructions
1. Combine the granulated sugar and 0.5 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
2. Add the cubed watermelon to a blender and blend until completely smooth, 30–60 seconds. Strain the puree through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl or pitcher, pressing to extract as much juice as possible; discard the pulp.
3. Juice the lemons to yield 1 cup of fresh lemon juice, then strain out seeds and excess pulp.
4. In a large pitcher, combine the watermelon juice, lemon juice, cooled simple syrup, and 1 cup cold water. Stir until evenly mixed and bright pink.
5. Fill glasses with ice. Pour the watermelon lemonade over the ice and garnish with mint leaves. Serve immediately.
Watermelon lemonade is a refreshing, ruby-pink drink that pairs the clean tang of lemon with the lush, fruity sweetness of ripe watermelon. The result is crisp and juicy, with a thirst-quenching balance that shines over ice on hot days. Its texture is smooth and light when strained, and it carries a fragrant, summery aroma that makes it ideal for picnics, barbecues, and casual gatherings.
Lemonade has roots reaching back to medieval and early modern citrus drinks in the Middle East and Mediterranean, eventually becoming a staple refreshment in Europe and the United States. Watermelon, domesticated in Africa and beloved across warm climates, naturally found its way into American summer beverages as markets and home gardens brimmed with the fruit. The combination emerged as a seasonal favorite in the U.S., where blending and straining techniques made it easy to craft a clear, balanced pitcher for entertaining.