Jump to Recipe

Watermelon Jalapeño Agua Fresca  is not only vibrant and pretty to look at, but it is very refreshing and this one comes with a little kick. It’s a delicious treat for all ages that is sugar-free.

2 glasses watermelon jalapeño agua fresca garnished with jalapeño slices and fresh mint and a wedge of lime

Table of contents

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is just over a week away, and with Los Angeles sitting only 141 miles from Mexico, the city celebrates the holiday in a big way. In Mexico, people love agua fresca recipes—light, non-alcoholic drinks made from fresh fruit and lightly sweetened.

A closeup of the drink showing the green garnishes floating on top

What is agua fresca?

A refreshing, lightly sweetened drink made by blending fruit, water, and a bit of sugar—sometimes with added lime juice, herbs, or seeds. It’s popular in Mexico and Central America, especially during hot weather.

Common types include:

  • Agua de Jamaica – made with hibiscus flowers
  • Agua de Horchata – made with rice, cinnamon, and vanilla
  • Agua de Sandía – made with watermelon
  • Agua de Piña – made with pineapple
  • Agua de Pepino – made with cucumber

Served on the streets by street vendors, markets and restaurants of Mexico, agua fresca is also perfect for celebrations with appetizers, snacks or even a barbecue in the warm weather. They are  so easy to make and can be prepared up to a day in advance and kept refrigerated until ready to serve.

Spicy Agua Fresca

All the ingredients are blended, strained and in this particular drink, fresh sliced jalapeño  that will have people asking “Oh, what is that little kick from?”. Just a little warm tingle at the back of the tongue. Even kids would love this drink, just put some of the watermelon juice aside, add lime and agave and omit adding the jalapeños.

A top and a side view of watermelon jalapeño agua fresca

Adding alcolhol

Want to make this a grown-up cocktail? The perfect alcohol to add is a good tequila.

When you’re out in the heat and enjoying this delicious beverage, you’ll need something to snack on. Mexican Popcorn is the perfect accompaniment. Spices, lime zest and cojita cheese top homemade, freshly popped popcorn.

Mexican popcorn garnished with lime zest in a bowl

If you’ve made my Watermelon Jalapeño Agua Fresca, please leave a star rating in the recipe. You can also leave a comment below or ask a question.

You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see daily recipe updates.

Yield: 4 -6

Watermelon Jalapeño Agua Fresca

A vibrant watermelon colored drink with green mint and jalapeño slice floating on top

Watermelon jalapeño agua fresca  is not only vibrant and pretty to look at, but it is very refreshing and this one comes with a little kick. It's a delicious treat for all ages.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 cups (912 grams) watermelon, cut into cubes
  • 2 tablespoons agave nectar
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh lime juice
  • 1 jalapeño, sliced
  • Fresh mint sprigs

Instructions

  1. Add the watermelon, agave and lime juice to a blender and blend until smooth. Strain through a sieve into a large bowl, pushing the pulp with a fork to get as much juice out as possible. Add the jalapeño slices and refrigerate for 30 minutes. *see note
  2. Using a large spoon, remove as much foam from the surface as you can. Strain through a sieve into a pitcher. Add the agave nectar and lime juice and stir to combine.
  3. Pour into short glasses and garnish with a slice of jalapeño and sprig of mint.

Notes

* You can remove some of the watermelon before adding jalapeño if serving to children, just add lime and agave.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1 drink
Amount Per Serving Calories 30Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 1mgCarbohydrates 7gFiber 0gSugar 6gProtein 0g

This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.

© Janette
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Drinks