Homemade Watermelon Lemonade Recipe
When it comes to thirst-quenching beverages, nothing beats a nice glass of lemonade — especially when it's warm outside. But lemonade doesn't have to be about just lemons. If you want to give your lemonade a summertime twist, try our homemade watermelon lemonade. Recipe developer Ting Dalton told Mashed that the cool watermelon flavor in this refreshing drink is "great for a hot summer's day." She also said that while the flavor of the lemonade is subtle, the hint of watermelon "works well with the zest of the lemon juice."
Watermelon not only tastes good, but it is also good for you. It contains vitamins C and A as well as beta-carotene and lycopene (via Healthline). In addition, lemons provide vitamin C and flavonoids, according to Medical News Today. It's nice to know that there are some benefits that come along with this light and lemony drink, which is perfect for all kinds of occasions, including barbecues or lazy summer afternoons. People of all ages are sure to enjoy it — including children. Dalton says her kids love it, adding, "they feel grown-up when they drink it."
So what's keeping you from giving this lemonade a try? You can have a pitcher ready to drink in less than an hour.
Gather the ingredients for your homemade watermelon lemonade
To make this refreshing drink, you will need the flesh from a chilled watermelon. Dalton says that you should look for a melon that is at least medium to large-sized so you can get as much juice from it as possible. In addition to the melon, you'll need a sliced lime, four cups of cold water, a cup of lemon juice (bottled or freshly squeezed) two-thirds of a cup of granulated sugar (or more to taste), a handful of fresh mint, and crushed ice.
Strain the watermelon
Add the watermelon flesh to a blender or processor and mix until it's puréed. Dalton told Mashed that the mixture does not need to be smooth at this point because you will be straining it, which is the next step. Place a sieve over a large bowl and press sections of the watermelon until you have strained all of it. Dalton says she squeezed about three cups of juice from her medium-sized melon.
Combine the remaining ingredients and add the watermelon juice
Once you have collected the juice from the watermelon, the next step is to add the water, lemon juice, and sugar to a large pitcher. You'll want to stir the juice and water until the sugar is dissolved. Next, pour the watermelon juice into the pitcher and stir again to combine all of the ingredients. This might be a good time to taste-test the lemonade to see if it is sweet enough. If it isn't, Dalton says you can just add a dash of sugar until you get the sweetness to your liking.
Chill and enjoy
All that's left to do is chill the drink. Place the pitcher in the refrigerator for a few minutes before serving. Dalton told Mashed that if you don't have time to chill the lemonade, simply add more ice to it. When you are ready to serve it, add the crushed ice, lime slices, and mint leaves to your glasses before pouring the lemonade. You can always add more mint and lime to taste.
- 1 watermelon, chilled and cut into cubes
- 4 cups cold water
- 1 cup lemon juice, bottled or freshly squeezed
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar or more to taste
- 1 lime, sliced
- Crushed ice
- Small handful fresh mint
- Add the watermelon to a blender or food processor to purée — it doesn't have to be smooth.
- Using a strainer over a large bowl, press the watermelon purée through so it catches all the seeds and chunks. Retain the watermelon juice.
- In a pitcher, add the water, lemon juice, and sugar, and stir well until the sugar has been dissolved.
- Stir in the watermelon juice and combine well.
- To serve, add crushed ice, lime slices, and mint leaves to large glasses or mason jars, pour the watermelon lemonade, and serve with more mint and slices of lime.
| Calories per Serving | 244 |
| Total Fat | 0.9 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.1 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.0 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 62.4 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.7 g |
| Total Sugars | 52.6 g |
| Sodium | 11.3 mg |
| Protein | 3.6 g |
