Watermelon juice is an instant cool-off. Used throughout the world in the summer months, this simple Agua Fresca (“fresh water”) recipe inspired from Latin American cuisine, might be just the thing to keep you cool this summer. Hint: have some of this ready to drink after playing sports outside or after a long day in the sun. Hers's to staying cool!
INGREDIENTS
4 cups water
1 ½ pounds watermelon (rind removed) seeded and chopped into a 1-inch cubes
Lime juice -1/2 lime
Fresh basil leaves or mint, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
Put watermelon, water and lime into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour mixture through a strainer into a pitcher.
Chill for 30 minutes and serve with ice or on it’s own
Garnish each glass with a leaf of basil when serving
Food Medicine:
Watermelon – Cold and sweet this is one of the best thirst quenching fruits out there! Great for heat stroke, water retention and can help detoxify. Avoid this if you have a week digestive system or suffer from loose bowels regularly.
Mint – Cool refreshing and somewhat moving, mint is great to smooth out mood and cool down your temperature. Also great for stomach upset or nausea.
Basil – slightly warm and moving, this herb is a great addition for someone who wants a milder cool down and a fresh flavour
Lime – cooling and sour limes are great at regenerating body fluids, quenching thirst, regulating stomach and digestion and can actually help with irritability by moving ‘Qi’ flow in the body (think of an internal traffic jam that starts to flow)