Description
Stay refreshed with this easy, zesty Cucumber Agua Fresca recipe—cool, hydrating, and perfect for any hot day or gathering. It blends crisp cucumbers with a touch of citrus and natural sweetness to create a light, vibrant beverage that refreshes and replenishes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 to 3 firm, crisp fresh cucumbers (seedless preferred, such as Persian or English)
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
- 4 cups cold water
- 2 to 3 tablespoons natural sweetener (agave nectar, honey, or simple syrup), adjust to taste
- Ice cubes, as needed for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Cucumbers: Wash the cucumbers thoroughly. Peel them if desired for a smoother texture, then chop into chunks to ease blending.
- Blend the Ingredients: In a high-speed blender, combine the cucumber chunks, fresh lime juice, cold water, and your chosen sweetener. Blend until smooth and consistent.
- Strain the Mixture: Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a pitcher to remove pulp and achieve a silky texture.
- Chill and Serve: Add ice cubes to the strained agua fresca and stir well. Taste and adjust sweetness or lime juice as needed before serving.
Notes
- Use seedless cucumbers like Persian or English for less bitterness and smaller seeds.
- Adjust sweetener incrementally—start with less and add more if needed.
- Use cold water and ice cubes to keep the drink refreshing.
- Blend in smaller batches for large quantities to ensure better texture.
- Always use fresh lime juice for the brightest, most authentic flavor.
- Variations include adding fresh mint, jalapeño slices for spice, fruit chunks like watermelon or pineapple, or an alcoholic splash (tequila or gin).
- For a zero sugar version, omit sweeteners and rely on natural cucumber and fruit flavors.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days; do not reheat.
- Frozen agua fresca cubes can be used to chill drinks without diluting flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 30
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg