Cucumber Agua Fresca With Mint and Ginger
Light and refreshing with a slight bite from fresh ginger, this cooling cucumber drink is perfect on days when the warmth of the sun bakes everything in its path. A simple syrup of bruised mint and sugar adds sweetness. Agua fresca, a chilled nonalcoholic drink popular in Mexico and Central America, is most often made by blending fruit or soaked grains or by steeping plant blossoms in water. The mix is then strained, sweetened and served chilled. Enjoy this cucumber version as is, or add a splash of gin to turn it into a light aperitif or a delightful afternoon cocktail.
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- 1 ½packed cups fresh mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
- ½cup granulated sugar
- ¼teaspoon kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
- 1cup hot water
- 2English cucumbers, ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1(3-inch) piece fresh ginger (about 2 ounces), scrubbed and chopped
- 1lime, plus more as needed
- Ice cubes, for serving
Instructions
Step 1
In a medium bowl, combine the mint leaves, sugar and salt, and crush them all together using a fork or the back of a wooden spoon just until the mint is bruised. Pour in the hot water, and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve. Allow the mixture to steep for 5 minutes while you prepare the cucumbers.Step 2
Combine the cucumbers and ginger in a blender. Zest the lime right over the blender, then halve it and squeeze in its juice. Pour in 1 cup room-temperature water and purée on high until smooth. Pour the purée through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing lightly on the solids with a spatula to extract the liquid. Discard the solids and pour the agua fresca into a medium pitcher.Step 3
Pour the mint syrup through the same strainer into a container, pressing on the leaves to extract the liquid. Add ¼ cup strained syrup to the agua fresca. Taste and add more syrup or more lime juice to taste. Cover any leftover syrup and refrigerate for another use.Step 4
Fill glasses with ice, pour in the agua fresca, garnish with mint and serve immediately.