Cucumber Basil Agua Fresca Recipes

Steps:

• Puree 2 cups chopped peeled cucumbers, the juice of 1 lime, 2 tablespoons agave syrup, 1/2 cup mint and 1 cup water in a blender. Chill 30 minutes, then strain, pressing on the solids. Divide among ice-filled glasses. Top with cucumber and lime slices.

Steps:

• Combine 2 1/4 cups chopped cucumbers, 2 cups water, 1 cup ice cubes, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup lime juice, and 1 pinch of salt in blender. Blend until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth but slushy, about 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to pitcher. Repeat with remaining chopped cucumbers, 2 cups water, 1 cup ice cubes, sugar, lime juice, and salt.
• Place additional ice cubes in 8 glasses. Fill with cucumber drink.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the mint leaves, sugar and salt, and crush them all together using a fork or the back of a wooden spoon just until the mint is bruised. Pour in the hot water, and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve. Allow the mixture to steep for 5 minutes while you prepare the cucumbers.
• Combine the cucumbers and ginger in a blender. Zest the lime right over the blender, then halve it and squeeze in its juice. Pour in 1 cup room-temperature water and purée on high until smooth. Pour the purée through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing lightly on the solids with a spatula to extract the liquid. Discard the solids and pour the agua fresca into a medium pitcher.
• Pour the mint syrup through the same strainer into a container, pressing on the leaves to extract the liquid. Add ¼ cup strained syrup to the agua fresca. Taste and add more syrup or more lime juice to taste. Cover any leftover syrup and refrigerate for another use.
• Fill glasses with ice, pour in the agua fresca, garnish with mint and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Put watermelon in a blender. Blend until the chunks turn to liquid. Add cucumber chunks and blend again. Pour in water, sugar, and lime juice. Blend once more. Strain through a sieve to remove pulp.
• Fill 4 glasses with ice and pour agua fresca on top.