Refreshing Agua Fresca – Ginger & Watermelon
This really is the best drink to have stocked in the fridge during the spring when it starts to heat up and right through to September. Though even on a chilly day, the ginger gives a warmth to the drink when it’s a bit cooler. Recently I have been reading that ginger has great way to ease gastric reflux, so due to low stomach acid gas bubbles are created and pushes back up the esophagus. The sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach can close not properly and causes food and liquid back into the esophagus, causing heartburn. Also melon is a source of non-acidic fruit to enjoy. With the recipe the lime can be removed for those who suffer from gastric reflux. Salud !
Refreshing Agua Fresca – Ginger & Watermelon
Yield: 3litre. This can vary depending on size of watermelon. Once you have blended the ingredients, I'd adjust the agua fresca with water to your preferred consistncy/thickness.
Equipment
- Strainer
- Muslin cloth
- Blender
- Pestle and mortar - for the mint
- Large bowl or container
Ingredients
- .5 Watermelon – deskinned & seeds removed optional: using Cucumber instead
- 45 g ginger root
- 30 mint leaves
- 4 limes – remove if you experience heartburn or suffer from acid reflux
- 1-2 tbspn brown sugar – used to crush mint
- * of course you can half quantities for small volume
- 1 litre water
Instructions
- So when I make this when I buy a watermelon it might be about 4kg and once de-skinned and seeds remove it comes in at about jus over 3.2kg.
- With the half melon, I place the flat area on the board and cut from the centre outwards into segment. I do quarters and then divide them again. I get a small knife and cut in between the thick skin and red melon. Removing as much white as possible.
- To remove the seeds easily, I have a bowl of water and I find just shaking the segment in the water will dislodge alot of seeds. There are some shops that have seedless melons, your own preference.
- I place pieces into a blender and add about a pint of water. You can add less water and then add more once everything is mixed together.
- For the ginger, remove any tough pieces of skin on the root, if you are using organic I leave the areas on the sides on and remove the areas on the tips. For non-organic, use the back of a spoon to remove the skin or a small blunt edge.
- I’d place the ginger into the blender and add some water to get a good puree.
- I don't strain the watermelon or ginger during this as I find it a waste. Having all that pulp actually adds to the end flavour
- I would first zest the limes and keep that for another use. Like in dark chocolate pudding recipes or on a noodle dish with some toasted peanuts. Store in the freezer for later.
- With the limes, I cut in half and flat side on a board I cut the white pith off the lime. If you don’t want all that work you can juice the limes, you’ll probably need 2-3 more as you lose some flavour from the discarded lime. I throw the limes into a blender and then strain everything into your bowl
- Gather mint leaves together and place in pestle and mortar. Add sugar in and crush mint with the pestle. Add some hot water and leave to stew.
- *A little note later for propagating a mint sprig into a new plant.
- Put the mint mixture, ginger and lime into the blender with some of the blended water melon. Give a good blend and add into your already blended watermelon. I do find the flavour needs adjusting to your own taste, maybe more mint for freshness or a bit more ginger for a nice zing.
- You can add water to suit your own consistency to drink. Grab some of the drink and add water and blend. It can be trial and error.
- You can swop out the watermelon for cucumber if you like that really refreshing drink. It is really nice though.
Notes
So when I get a mint pot from the supermarket, I will cut a few sprigs in order to grow a few more plants. Never put mint into the ground, it can really take over a garden and become invasive. Keep it in a large pot.
So with the sprigs, snip it just a leave junction. Place the sprig into some water and watch little roots start growing. The roots can take up to a week to show in warm weather, longer if the temperature is a bit low. I leave it on a window sill that gets good light.
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Refreshing Agua Fresca – Ginger & Watermelon
This really is the best drink to have stocked in the fridge during the spring when it starts to heat up and right through to September. Though even on a chilly day, the ginger gives a warmth to the drink when it’s a bit cooler. Recently I have been reading that ginger has great way to ease gastric reflux, so due to low stomach acid gas bubbles are created and pushes back up the esophagus. The sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach can close not properly and causes food and liquid back into the esophagus, causing heartburn. Also melon is a source of non-acidic fruit to enjoy. With the recipe the lime can be removed for those who suffer from gastric reflux. Salud !
Refreshing Agua Fresca – Ginger & Watermelon
Yield: 3litre. This can vary depending on size of watermelon. Once you have blended the ingredients, I'd adjust the agua fresca with water to your preferred consistncy/thickness.
Equipment
- Strainer
- Muslin cloth
- Blender
- Pestle and mortar - for the mint
- Large bowl or container
Ingredients
- .5 Watermelon – deskinned & seeds removed optional: using Cucumber instead
- 45 g ginger root
- 30 mint leaves
- 4 limes – remove if you experience heartburn or suffer from acid reflux
- 1-2 tbspn brown sugar – used to crush mint
- * of course you can half quantities for small volume
- 1 litre water
Instructions
- So when I make this when I buy a watermelon it might be about 4kg and once de-skinned and seeds remove it comes in at about jus over 3.2kg.
- With the half melon, I place the flat area on the board and cut from the centre outwards into segment. I do quarters and then divide them again. I get a small knife and cut in between the thick skin and red melon. Removing as much white as possible.
- To remove the seeds easily, I have a bowl of water and I find just shaking the segment in the water will dislodge alot of seeds. There are some shops that have seedless melons, your own preference.
- I place pieces into a blender and add about a pint of water. You can add less water and then add more once everything is mixed together.
- For the ginger, remove any tough pieces of skin on the root, if you are using organic I leave the areas on the sides on and remove the areas on the tips. For non-organic, use the back of a spoon to remove the skin or a small blunt edge.
- I’d place the ginger into the blender and add some water to get a good puree.
- I don't strain the watermelon or ginger during this as I find it a waste. Having all that pulp actually adds to the end flavour
- I would first zest the limes and keep that for another use. Like in dark chocolate pudding recipes or on a noodle dish with some toasted peanuts. Store in the freezer for later.
- With the limes, I cut in half and flat side on a board I cut the white pith off the lime. If you don’t want all that work you can juice the limes, you’ll probably need 2-3 more as you lose some flavour from the discarded lime. I throw the limes into a blender and then strain everything into your bowl
- Gather mint leaves together and place in pestle and mortar. Add sugar in and crush mint with the pestle. Add some hot water and leave to stew.
- *A little note later for propagating a mint sprig into a new plant.
- Put the mint mixture, ginger and lime into the blender with some of the blended water melon. Give a good blend and add into your already blended watermelon. I do find the flavour needs adjusting to your own taste, maybe more mint for freshness or a bit more ginger for a nice zing.
- You can add water to suit your own consistency to drink. Grab some of the drink and add water and blend. It can be trial and error.
- You can swop out the watermelon for cucumber if you like that really refreshing drink. It is really nice though.
Notes
So when I get a mint pot from the supermarket, I will cut a few sprigs in order to grow a few more plants. Never put mint into the ground, it can really take over a garden and become invasive. Keep it in a large pot.
So with the sprigs, snip it just a leave junction. Place the sprig into some water and watch little roots start growing. The roots can take up to a week to show in warm weather, longer if the temperature is a bit low. I leave it on a window sill that gets good light.
One Comment
-
Very refreshing and great as a frozen lolly
Leave A Comment
Recent recipes
Very refreshing and great as a frozen lolly