When the weather is brutally hot, there’s nothing quite like Watermelon Juice to cool and refresh your body while quenching your thirst. Here I’ll show you how to make three different versions of this healthy, all natural drink recipe.
Table of Contents
Why Homemade Juices
Even though most of us know that soft drinks and artificially flavored juices are not great for our health, many of us still end up drinking them.
We’re conditioned by swaths of slick marketers who get our favorite celebrities to endorse them and advertise to us constantly. “Drinking this beverage will make you cool,” they promise. What they omit from their campaigns is how damaging these calorie-laden drinks truly are.
While I don’t like the marketing game and refuse to buy what they peddle, what is cool is drinking beverages made from fresh fruits.
Drinks like these watermelon juice recipes are not only good for the body, but good for the soul, too! I can’t help but smile when I taste a sip of this gorgeous ruby red drink, and I bet you won’t be able to either.
Watermelon Health Benefits
Watermelon is rich in anti-oxidants, a good source of potassium and has been linked to a reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases and colon cancer. If that’s not a superfood, I don’t know what is!
Naturally sweet and 92% made of water, this delightful fruit is the perfect candidate to replace sugary beverages. My recipes for watermelon juice don’t call for any added sugar because they are perfectly sweet on their own!
I love eating fresh slices of watermelon that have been sprinkled with chaat masala and black salt. But sometimes I am so dehydrated and worn out from the heat that only a slurp-able, thirst-quenching drink will do the trick. When that happens, I make this super easy watermelon juice recipe.
Watermelon Juice Combinations
Best of all, watermelon juice can easily be adjusted to suit your tastes and what you have on hand. Here I offer recipes for plain & classic watermelon juice, as well as options that include fresh mint and fresh orange.
Don’t feel limited by these options though! Ginger, sabja (also known as sweet basil seeds), and rose blossom water are other delightful flavoring ideas.
Feel free to mix other citrus like lime, pomelo or lemon. If you like floral flavors, add a dash of rose water, orange blossom water or gulkand (rose preserve).
Include mint, basil, cilantro or tarragon for a lovely fresh herbal flavor. For a kick of spice, add ginger, ground cumin or cinnamon.
Now let’s go find you a good watermelon, shall we?
How To Choose A Good Watermelon
Fresh, summer fruit is one of the great joys of life. When something is in season and perfectly ripe, it is as though nature has bestowed the ultimate gift. Watermelon is no exception to this rule.
There are a few things you should look for when seeking a good watermelon. First, the fruit should be heavy for its size. This indicates one of the hallmark qualities of a good watermelon: juiciness.
Next, check the field mark. This is the spot where the watermelon rested on the ground as it grew. A ripe watermelon should have a yellowy tone; if the field mark is white, the watermelon is immature.
Now look at the rest of the skin. It should be somewhat dull, which indicates it has had time to harden. The stem is another good spot to look – it should de dried and yellowed, like that of a pumpkin. If the stem is still green, that means it’s too young!
How to Cut and Seed a Watermelon
Cut Watermelon
The only cumbersome part of making watermelon juice is removing the seeds. But don’t worry! Here I share an easy method to remove the seeds.
TIP: If you want to skip the seeding part, opt for a seedless watermelon! Contrary to popular thought, seedless watermelons can be just as delicious as their seeded brethren.
1. Rinse the watermelon and wipe dry it. Using a chef’s knife, carefully cut in two equal parts to get two half circles.
2. Now cut each of the halves in half again to get two wedges. NOTE: If your watermelon is large, you may have to cut it three or four times.
Cut the Portion Which Has Seeds
3. Again using a sharp knife, carefully begin to cut slightly below the part where you see the seeds. Aim to have the knife cut about halfway through the pink flesh.
4. Keep on moving with the knife and cut to the middle axis.
5. Now give a similar cut to the other side, just below where the seeds are visible. You’re aiming for your knife to cut through about half of the pink part to roughly meet up with your cut from the other side
6. Finally, cut the narrowest part of the wedge, again right beneath the seed line.
7. Now cut and separate the new, smaller wedge you have created.
8. Remove any seeds you see on the watermelon wedge.
Remove Seeds
9. Remove the black seeds from the smaller wedge, then chop into cubes. You can keep the white seeds as they blend easily while making the juice.
10. Slice the pink part of watermelon flesh away from the rind.
Cube Watermelon
11. Repeat with the remaining watermelon wedges. Cube the fruit, removing any remaining seeds you might find.
TIP: Don’t compost your watermelon rind just yet! You can do one of two things:
1.) Extract the flavor from the rind by steeping it in cool water for about an hour. To do this, cut the rind into small enough pieces to fit in into a pitcher, then top with cool water. Refrigerate for at least an hour or up to 24 hours, then strain into cups and drink.
2.) Pickle the watermelon rinds. Here is an easy recipe of Watermelon Rind Pickle.
3 Ways to Make Watermelon Juice
Watermelon juice is a beautiful beverage all on its own, but the flavor also plays nicely with others. I’ve listed three potential ways for you to try making this yummy summertime beverages, but I have also listed additional flavoring ideas below in the FAQs.
1. Classic Watermelon Juice
1. Add cubed fruit to blender.
NOTE: Feel free to add ½ to 1 teaspoon chopped ginger a small handful of mint leaves at this step if you’d like!
2. Add ½ to 1 teaspoon lemon juice, depending on your preference for acidity.
3. Blend until smooth.
4. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
NOTE: Feel free to garnish with dash of black pepper or black salt.
2. Watermelon Mint Juice
Fresh mint adds a delightfully refreshing twist to simple watermelon juice. It is both cooling and has beneficial digestive properties. Thus, the combination of watermelon and mint is ideal for summers.
1. In a blender, add the chopped watermelon (from 1 medium-sized watermelon) and 2 tablespoon mint leaves. No need to add water. Blend well.
2. Pour the watermelon juice in tall glasses and sprinkle some black salt and chaat masala from top. Add ice cubes if required.
3. Garnish watermelon juice with some mint leaves and serve straightaway. Enjoy!
3. Watermelon Orange Juice
Bright orange and fresh watermelon combine make a winning refreshment, especially when topped with mint leaves. Not only does it taste delicious, it also quickly recharges the body after a long day in the sun.
1. Peel and separate the orange segments from 1 sweet orange (medium to large). Extract the juice. You can use a juicer to extract the orange juice. You will need about ¾ to 1 cup of orange juice.
2. Transfer 4 to 5 cups of chopped watermelon, 5 to 6 mint leaves and 1 to 2 tablespoon of raw sugar (optional) in a blender.
3. Blend until smooth. Pour the watermelon juice in a jar or bowl. Add the orange juice to the watermelon juice.
4. Mix well and serve straight away with or without ice cubes and garnished with mint leaves. Enjoy!
Tips + FAQs
Watermelon has a fresh tasting sweetness that plays very nicely with other flavors, both savory and sweet. I encourage you to find your own favorite blend, but here are some ideas to get you started:
Other citrus – lime, pomelo, lemon
Floral – rosewater, orange blossom water, hibiscus tea
Herbal – mint, basil, cilantro, tarragon
Spicy – ginger, ground cumin, black pepper, cinnamon
Feel free to mix and match!
Please note: Summer is the best time to experiment with fruit juices because the variety is greatest. Just make sure that you choose the right combination of fruit, because some fruits do not go well together.
While it is best to drink immediately after blending, watermelon juice can keep in the fridge for a few hours. You can also take any leftovers to freeze into popsicles or ice cubes for a refreshing treat!
The short (but annoying) answer is: it depends. Generally speaking, you can count on a watermelon lasting up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
Reference Links:
https://www.healthline.com/
https://www.realsimple.com/
More Fresh Fruit Juices!
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Watermelon Juice Recipe
By Dassana Amit
Ingredients
Main Ingredient
- 1 watermelon – medium-sized
Watermelon Juice
- ½ to 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 to 3 pinches black salt or chaat masala – optional, to garnish
Watermelon Mint Juice
- 2 tablespoons mint leaves
- 2 to 3 pinches black salt or chaat masala – optional, to garnish
Watermelon Orange Juice
- 1 orange – peeled and segments removed (medium to large)
- 5 to 6 mint leaves
- 1 to 2 tablespoons raw sugar – optional
Instructions
Prepping
- Cut the watermelon as shown above in the step-by-step photo guide or whichever method you know or prefer. Remove the seeds.
- Chop the flesh in rough cubes
Making Watermelon Juice
- In a blender add the chopped watermelon and lemon juice. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the juice in glasses and serve immediately.
- Optionally if you like you can sprinkle a light pinch of black salt or on top of the juice.
Making Watermelon Mint Juice
- Add the chopped watermelon and mint leaves in a blender. Blend well.
- Pour the watermelon mint juice in tall glasses and sprinkle some black salt and chaat masala from top if you prefer.
- Garnish the juice with some mint leaves and serve straightaway.
Making Watermelon Orange Juice
- Peel and separate the orange segments from the orange.
- Extract the juice using a juicer. You will need about ¾ to 1 cup of orange juice.
- Add the chopped watermelon, 5 to 6 mint leaves and raw sugar (optional) in a blender.
- Blend until smooth. Pour the watermelon juice in a jar or bowl.
- Add the orange juice to the watermelon juice and mix well.
- Serve straight away with or without ice cubes and garnished with a few mint leaves.
Notes
- Watermelon: Ensure that you use a ripe and sweet watermelon to make the juice. Cut it in the way described above in the step-by-step guide or whichever method you know or prefer.
- Watermelon Juice Combinations: Add other citrus fruits like – lime, pomelo, lemon. For floral flavors, include rosewater, orange blossom water, hibiscus tea or gulkand (Indian rose preserve). For herbal flavors add – mint, basil, cilantro, tarragon. For a kick of spice – add fresh ginger root, ground cumin or cinnamon.
- Make ahead: While it is best to drink immediately after blending, watermelon juice can keep in the fridge for a few hours. You can also take any leftovers to freeze into popsicles or ice cubes for a refreshing treat.
- Note that the approximate nutrition info is for the simple classic watermelon juice.
Nutrition Info Approximate values
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This watermelon juice recipe from the archives (April 2012) has been republished and updated on 29 April 2021.
Dassana please guide like that with what name is gulkand available in grocery shop n is it easily available in any part of India.
Or is there anyother popular name for rose petal jam ?
Meghà, it is known as gulkand only. it should be easily available in western and northen parts of india. you can try buying online.
I just tried it and it tasted great.The rose flavor in watermelon juice was very refreshing
thanks nihi. agree the rose flavor in watermelon juice is so refreshing.
It’s a time of ramdan. And I made this watermelon juice for iftaar. And my family members loved it.
Thanks very much.
welcome sadiya and nice to know 🙂
Interesting using chaat masala. I normally include either cucumber or mint into my watermelon juice. Will have to try the other combos. Does the rose petal jam make it that much sweeter?
Joana add little rose petal jam if the watermelon is too sweet and add more if it’s not very sweet. Hope this help’s you thanks.