This refreshing watermelon mint lemonade is super quick and easy to prepare. This is one of those recipes you’ll want to tinker around with to find the right flavor combination for your tastes. For example, the amount of water you need to add will vary depending on how juicy the watermelon is and how strong you want the flavor to be.
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Keyword watermelon mint lemonade
Prep Time 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time 12 minutesminutes
Author Gina
Ingredients
Ingredients:
Mint Simple Syrupoptional
½c.granulated sugar
½c.water
¼c.tightly packed fresh mint leavesstems removed and crushed
6c.fresh watermelonrinds removed and cut into chunks
¾c.fresh lemon juice6-8 medium lemons
½c.cold water(plus more, if needed)
½c.fresh mint leavestightly packed with stems removed
fresh mint sprigsfor garnish
lemon slicesfor garnish
Instructions
Directions:
To make the simple syrup, add the sugar, water and crushed mint leaves to a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and discard mint leaves. Cool completely before using.
Add watermelon chunks, lemon juice and ½ cup cold water to a blender and blend until liquefied. Pour through a fine mesh strainer to remove any larger particles. Taste and add more water, if needed. Sweeten with mint-infused simple syrup, if desired.
Bruise ½ c. fresh mint leaves with fingers to release oils and add to the bottom of a large glass pitcher or jar. If serving immediately, add ice cubes to the container and pour the watermelon mixture over top. Add fresh lemon slices to the container for garnish.
To serve, pour over ice and add a sprig of fresh mint and a lemon slice for garnish.
Notes
Directions for a mint-infused simple syrup are included. The watermelon adds a lot of sweetness, however, so you may not wish to sweeten it further. It really depends on how sweet you want the final results to be. If you are serving this recipe outside on a warm day, make extra so you can freeze some into ice cubes or an ice ring (if serving in a punch bowl). Using ice cubes made of the beverage you are serving rather than plain water will prevent watered-down drinks as the day or evening progresses.For an adults-only variation, add some citrus-flavored vodka before serving.