Watermelon Agua Fresca- Sandia

This agua fresca can be used as a template for any soft fruit: cantaloupe, mango, papaya, pineapple, strawberry, guava... the list goes on and on. Start by mashing the fruit and add water to make 1 gallon. Don't be tempted to throw this in the blender, as the best aguas always have bits of fruit floating throughout. You should make it a little stronger than you think since chilling dulls the flavor and ice will dilute it. Extra agua can be frozen into paletas. Please adjust the sugar to you liking. From Baja: Cooking on the Edge.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Yields: 1 gallon

Ingredients

• 3  cups water
• 1⁄2-1  cup sugar
• 1  watermelon (medium)
• 1  lime, juice of
•  ice

Directions

1. Combine the water and sugar to taste in a saucepan and boil until the sugar dissolves. Cool.
2. Peel the watermelon, remove as many seeds as possible, and mash with a potato masher (or pulse in a food processor) until the fruit is fairly smooth. Add the water and lime juice. Taste and adjust with more sugar, lime, or water as desired. Serve over ice.