Like many children, Owen is completely captivated by the movie Frozen. On a recent grocery run he spotted character-branded bottles and begged for one. Normally I avoid buying drinks when plain water is available at home, but I gave in and bought him the Olaf bottle. Back at home he took a sip and declared, “No Mommy. It’s juice.”
He was right. The bottle was labeled “Berry Frost Flavored Water Drink” and contained a long list of artificial ingredients rather than simple, natural fruit. That got me thinking about making homemade flavored waters—agua frescas—which are essentially fruity, lightly sweetened drinks similar to lemonade but made from a wide range of fruits. Melons, pineapple, berries, mango, and guava all make fantastic bases.
This honeydew version is adapted from Hugh Acheson’s cookbook The Broad Fork: Recipes for the Wide World of Vegetables and Fruits. Chef cookbooks can sometimes feel intimidating, but this one is accessible and inspiring. One recipe that caught my eye is a cantaloupe soup with curry—definitely on my to-try list.
This recipe uses a full cup of lime juice, but don’t assume it tastes like limeade. The lime simply brightens and balances the melon, allowing the honeydew’s flavor to shine. Even when I didn’t pick the best melon, the drink still turned out wonderfully.
We enjoy this agua fresca topped with a splash of club soda for a little fizz, but it also pairs beautifully with Prosecco for an adult twist.
Photo bomb!
Honeydew Agua Fresca
Ingredients
-
1
honeydew melon -
1
cup
freshly squeezed lime juice
about 6 small limes -
2
cups
water -
1
cup
sugar -
2
tablespoons
honey
Instructions
-
Cut, seed, and dice the honeydew, discarding the rind. Place half the melon and the lime juice in a blender and puree until smooth. Strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl. Puree the remaining melon with 1 cup of water and strain again, pressing with a wooden spoon to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the pulp and transfer the combined melon juice to a pitcher.
-
In a small saucepan, combine the remaining cup of water with the sugar and honey. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves and the mixture just comes to a simmer, stirring to combine. Remove from heat and pour the syrup into the pitcher with the melon juice. Stir well, chill until cold, and serve over ice. For a fizzy version add a splash of club soda or top with Prosecco for a celebratory touch.