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I’m gonna let you in on a secret: I hate eating watermelon. I know, I’m a freak. There’s just something about the texture that I can’t stand. As much as I want to love that watermelon, feta, and mint salad that everyone makes this time of year, I can’t do it. Blegh.
I do, however, love drinking watermelon. Once it gets pureed, the texture is no longer an issue and it’s totally delicious and refreshing. Here, I combine it with fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and seltzer to make a gorgeous sparkling pink lemonade. It’s heavy on watermelon flavor, but still plenty tart. And, since the watermelon is so naturally sweet, you can cut way down on the added sugar.
Today, some of my friends and I are unveiling a new monthly blogging event called Progressive Eats. Have you ever been to a progressive dinner party? If not, it’s where you eat one course at one house, then move on to another one for the next, then another one, etc. They’ve fallen out of fashion, but I have seen them done as fundraisers and I’ve always loved the concept. Barb from Creative Culinary had the brilliant idea of taking these progressive parties online, with a core group of bloggers each posting one “course” of a themed menu. By them time you’ve stopped by and visited each blog, you’ll have a complete menu for a theme night of your own!
This month, Lana from Never Enough Time agree to host and she chose the theme “Summer in the South.” I’m from New York and, with the exception of Miami, the farthest south I’ve ever been is Northern Virginia. This theme was definitely not my forte!
I took the easy route and signed up to bring drinks. This sparkling watermelon lemonade is perfect though – at least in my mind. It’s super refreshing and will keep you cool in the stifling heat.
Sparkling Watermelon Lemonade
If you have a high-powered blender, like a Vitamix or Blendtec, you probably won't need to strain your watermelon puree. If you have a less powerful blender, the puree with be thicker. It's still perfectly delicious, but if you prefer a thiner drink you can strain it through a mesh sieve to remove the pulp. I also really like to make frozen lemonade with this recipe. Leave out the sparkling water and blend the more concentrated lemonade with a pitcher full of ice.
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 3/4 cups [b]sugar
- [/b]1 pinch salt
- 1 small, seedless watermelon
- 8 lemons
- 4 cups seltzer
Instructions
- Combine the water, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a rapid simmer to dissolve the sugar. Once the sugar is dissolved, set aside to cool.
- Peel the watermelon and cut the flesh into cubes (you should have about 2 cups). Process in a blender until smooth. Strain, if desired (see note). Pour inot a serving pitcher.
- Juice 7 of the lemons and add to the watermelon puree. Slice the remaining lemon into thin rounds and add to the pitcher. Stir in the simple syrup. Add the seltzer and stir gently to combine. Chill well and serve over ice.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 87kcal Calories from fat 3 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Sodium 34mg | 1% |
| Carbohydrate 23g | 8% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 4% |
| Sugars 19g | |
| Protein 1g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
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Be sure to check out the rest of our Summer in the South menu, and come back the last Tuesday of every month for a new theme!
Main Course
Never Enough Thyme – Creole Style Smothered Chicken
Appetizers
The Heritage Cook – Old Bay Shrimp Boil Skewers
Stetted – Fried Green Tomatoes with Smoked Tomato Basil Aioli
Bread
Savvy Eats – Jalapeno Cornbread + How to Store Cornbread
Salads
Miss in the Kitchen – Creamy Coleslaw
Life’s a Feast – Shrimp, Grilled Peach and Quinoa Salad
Soup
Spiceroots – Maque Choux Soup
Sides
Creative Culinary – Bacon and Caramelized Onion Creamed Corn
Pastry Chef Online – Spicy Succotash
Beverage
Healthy. Delicious. – Watermelon Lemonade
Desserts
Barbara Bakes – Key Lime Pound Cake
That Skinny Chick Can Bake – Banana Cream Cheesecake Pie
Don’t like watermelon?!? Did you skip the seed spitting contests at school when you were a kid? Or was that just a thing at the schools I went to? Either way, this is the prettiest drink. It looks so, so refreshing!
Lemonade is one of my favorite summer drinks (that isn’t coffee!), and this watermelon version sounds extremely refreshing right about now.
I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by and say hi and then I see this beautiful watermelon lemonade! Can’t wait to give it a try!
LOVE THIS! The Progressive Virtual Dinner Party AND the lemonade. Seriously, what could be more refreshing!?
What a delightful combination. It has to be absolutely refreshing! The color is certainly inviting. BUT what I really like is that use of seltzer water!
I can’t imagine any southerner who would turn down a glass of this delicious watermelon lemonade! Just absolutely perfect for our Summer in the South theme.
This sounds perfectly refreshing! I love it!
How refreshing is this?! I’ve been looking for a different way to use watermelon lately and this looks perfect!
I am suuuuuper picky about my watermelon. It has to be perfectly ripe and sweet, or I have no interest in eating it. Drinking it sounds like a fabulous idea – and the color of your watermelon lemonade is lovely!
What a perfect compliment to a summer meal in the South when cold and refreshing are requisite! Although I might have to take Jane’s lead and throw in a bit of vodka. 🙂
Looks and sounds perfect Lauren and thanks so much for joining Progressive Eats. I look forward to seeing what everyone does each month!
I’ve never had a watermelon drink. It looks so cool and refreshing. Perfect for a warm Southern night.
Sounds so refreshing! Never thought to combine watermelon and lemonade!
What a perfect beverage for this Southern meal!!! So gorgeous, so refreshing! I think I’d rather drink my watermelon than eat it, too! Please pass me a tall glass of this deliciousness 🙂
This sounds so refreshing!
Lauren, you may not be from the South but you picked the absolute perfect drink to go with the dinner! I love watermelon and turning it into a mocktail sounds so good. I might be tempted to add a splash of vodka though, LOL! This is really beautiful and refreshing on the hot summer days we’ve been having. Thanks for a great recipe!
Easy way out or not, you nailed this! It’s like Summer in the South in a glass–lovely drink!