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Cucumber agua fresca with basil and lime served over ice in a clear glass

Cucumber Agua Fresca with Basil, Lime and Lemongrass

Cucumber agua fresca is a fresh, smooth, and refreshing drink with crisp cucumber, bright citrus, and herbal flavor. It is an easy homemade beverage perfect for serving chilled over ice when you want a vibrant nonalcoholic drink.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Spanish
Calories: 144
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 small cucumbers, cut into chunks
  • 10 fresh basil leaves (or mint!)
  • 2 whole limes, unpeeled and cut into quarters
  • 1 tablespoon lemongrass paste or fresh lemongrass (can also use ginger)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 cups water + an additional 2 cups water later
  • ice for serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Blend the cucumbers, basil, limes, lemongrass, sugar, honey, and 2 cups water until combined into a smooth mixture.
  2. Pour the blended agua fresca through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher to remove the pulp, then discard the strained solids.
  3. Add the additional 2 cups water to the pitcher. Refrigerate the drink and serve over ice.

Notes

For two people, we usually drink half of the batch that evening, then keep the remaining portion in the refrigerator and finish it the next night. Use your best judgment with leftovers, as unpasteurized juices, especially those not served fresh, can be unsafe for certain people. Leaving the whole lime in the blend adds bitterness from the rind and pith, which creates a flavor similar to a cocktail; if you prefer a less bitter taste, use lime juice instead of whole limes.