THIS DRINK IS JUST THE THING TO COOL YOU OFF IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER

By America’s Test Kitchen

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Serves 4 to 6 (Makes about 6 cups)

8 cups (1-inch pieces) seedless watermelon (2 1/2 pounds)

2 cups water

1/4 cup lime juice, squeezed from 2 limes, plus lime wedges for serving

2 tablespoons honey

1/8 teaspoon salt

Ice

Fresh mint leaves (optional)

1. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher; set aside.

2. Add half of the chopped watermelon and half of the water to a blender jar. Place lid on top of blender and hold firmly in place with a folded dish towel. Process until smooth, about 30 seconds.

3. Pour mixture into a fine-mesh strainer set over a pitcher. Use a rubber spatula to stir and press on watermelon bits to get out as much juice as possible. Discard the solids in the strainer.

4. Repeat blending and straining in Steps 2 and 3 with the second half of the watermelon and water.

5. Add lime juice, honey and salt to the pitcher. Use a rubber spatula to stir until well combined.

6. To serve, place ice in glasses and pour agua fresca over ice. Add a lime wedge and mint (if using) to each glass.

Note: Agua fresca can be refrigerated for up to five days; stir to recombine before serving.

(For 25 years, confident cooks in the know have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. See more online at www.americastestkitchen. com/TCA.) (c) 2023 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.