Watermelon Basil Agua Fresca Recipe, Agua de Sandia -- Gluten Free, Paleo, Vegan

Agua frescas, literally meaning "fresh waters" in Spanish, are non alcoholic drinks popular in Central America, Mexico, and the USA, and they are made by blending fruit, cereals, flowers, or seeds with water and sugar. 

This watermelon agua fresca, also known in Spanish as Agua de Sandia, is extremely refreshing, quick to make, and tastes amazing. It is also naturally gluten free and allergy friendly, and depending what sweeteners you use, it can be either paleo or vegan. Of course, if the watermelon is sweet enough you may be able to leave out the sweetener entirely. 

Watermelon Basil Agua Fresca Recipe, Agua de Sandia -- Gluten Free, Paleo, Vegan

Ingredients:
3 cups chopped watermelon (seedless, but if using seeded pick out all the seeds)
2-3 cups water
1 cup ice (or one more cup water)
1/4-1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar, honey, jaggery syrup, agave nectar, etc... (optional)
10 basil leaves

Instructions:
1. Put melon, 2 cups water, 1 cup ice, and basil together in a blender.

2. Blend until smooth.

3. Add lemon juice, a little bit at a time, and sweetener a bit at a time, until you reach the exact taste you like.

4. Serve immediately. If not serving immediately, shake up or stir before serving so that whatever settled down to the bottom gets redistributed.

Enjoy!

Have you ever made agua fresca before? What was it with? Ever make drinks with watermelon? What is your favorite summer drink?