When the heat sets in, few things are more appealing than a cold, light and truly refreshing drink. And that’s where watermelon lemonade becomes the perfect choice for summer.
It’s easy to make, has a fresh taste and is much more natural than most sugary drinks you find in supermarkets. What’s more, it combines two ingredients that go incredibly well together: the natural sweetness of watermelon and the tangy zest of lemon. Best of all, you don’t need to go to too much trouble to achieve a spectacular result.
The best thing is that you don’t need to go to too much trouble to achieve a spectacular result.
Ingredients for watermelon lemonade
To make homemade watermelon lemonade, you’ll need some very simple ingredients:
- 4 cups of chopped watermelon (seedless)
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 1 glass of cold water
- Ice to taste
- Spearmint or mint leaves (optional)
- Sugar, honey or sweetener (optional)
Ideally, you should use a very ripe watermelon to make the most of its natural sweetness and avoid adding too much sugar.
How to make watermelon lemonade, step by step
Making lemonade is very simple:
- Start by cutting the watermelon into small pieces and removing any seeds. This step is important to ensure a smooth, pleasant texture.
- Place the watermelon in a blender along with the lemon juice and the glass of cold water. Blend until smooth.
- If you prefer a smoother texture, you can strain the mixture to remove some of the pulp. However, many people prefer to leave it in as it adds more body and flavour.
- Try the mixture before adding sugar. If the watermelon is ripe, you probably won’t need much at all.
- Add ice and serve well chilled.
Variations on lemonade
One of the best things about watermelon lemonade is that you can easily adapt it.
With crushed ice
If you want a more slushy texture, add crushed ice directly into the blender.
This makes the drink even more refreshing and perfect for really hot days.
With spearmint or mint
Adding a few mint leaves completely changes the result.
The combination of watermelon, lemon and mint has a much fresher and lighter flavour.
Just don’t overdo it. The common mistake is to add too much mint, which ends up overpowering the flavour of the watermelon.
With sparkling water
You can also replace some of the water with sparkling water to give it a taste more like a natural soft drink.
Tips for making it more refreshing
This is where you can really take the recipe to the next level.
- Use chilled watermelon: don’t wait to chill it afterwards. Ideally, it should already be chilled before you make the drink.
- Don’t add too much sugar: the beauty of a good watermelon lemonade lies precisely in how light and natural it is. If you overload the drink with sugar, you’ll lose that refreshing quality.
- Add the lemon juice gradually: some people prefer a sweeter taste, whilst others prefer it more tart. Add the lemon juice little by little until you find the right balance.
- Serve immediately: the texture and freshness are much better when it’s freshly made.
The benefits of watermelon lemonade
As well as tasting absolutely delicious, watermelon lemonade can be a much more refreshing and lighter option than many shop-bought drinks. Thanks to the watermelon’s high water content and the lemony tang of the lemon, it’s the perfect drink for hot days.
- It helps keep you hydrated thanks to the watermelon’s high water content.
- It is lighter than many soft drinks, especially if it is made without too much sugar.
- It provides vitamins and antioxidants such as vitamin C and lycopene.
- You can help cut down on sugary soft drinks by opting for more natural and refreshing drinks.
Watermelon lemonade or watermelon and lemon juice – what’s the difference?
Although many people use them interchangeably, they are not exactly the same.
Watermelon and lemon juice is usually simpler and more concentrated. It is basically made by blending the watermelon and lemon without adding too much water.
Watermelon lemonade, on the other hand, is designed to be a lighter, more refreshing drink, intended to be enjoyed in larger quantities.
In addition, lemonade usually contains ice, water and sometimes spearmint or mint.
The main differences are therefore:
- The juice has a stronger flavour
- Lemonade is more refreshing and lighter
Watermelon lemonade is one of those simple recipes that really hits the spot in summer. Refreshing, light and easy to make, it’s a much more natural alternative to most shop-bought drinks.
What’s more, you can easily adapt it by adding ice or mint, or even turn it into a more juice-like version with watermelon and lemon, depending on what you fancy.