Grape Agua Fresca Food

AGUA FRESCA

Steps:

• This and other similar fruit drinks, which translate literally as "fresh water," are served all over Mexico and they're a cinch to replicate at home. The key is to strain the pulpy fruit to make a clearer liquid. Instead of melon, you could use strawberries, pineapple, or mango -- any fruit that is soft enough to puree.
• Puree cantaloupe and pour through a fine sieve to eliminate pulp. In a pitcher, mix strained fruit puree with water and season with sugar and lime juice, to taste.

AGUA FRESCA

Steps:

• Puree fruit in a blender, adding just enough water or water and ice to blend. Strain puree through a fine sieve if it is fibrous or seedy.
• Put puree in a pitcher, adding more water or water and ice to make a total of 8 cups. Stir in sugar and mint, if using, and lime juice to taste. Serve.

AGUA FRESCA

Steps:

• Combine cantaloupe and 2 cups of water in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour blended mixture into a pitcher and add the rest of the water, lime juice and sugar if using. Chill well before serving.

WATERMELON AND GRAPEFRUIT AGUA FRESCA

Steps:

• Working in batches, purée watermelon in a blender until smooth. Pour into a large bowl and let stand for 10 minutes. Skim foam from surface and discard.
• Set a fine-mesh sieve over a large pitcher; line sieve with cheesecloth. Strain purée into pitcher (you should have almost 7 cups juice). Stir in grapefruit juice.
• Fill glasses with ice. Divide agua fresca among glasses.

GUAVA, GRAPEFRUIT, AND ROSEMARY AGUA FRESCA (AGUA FRESCA DE GUAYABA, TORONJA Y ROMERO)

Steps:

• In a blender, combine all the ingredients, except the sugar, and blend well. Standard blender jars probably won't fit all the ingredients so blend in batches. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher. Add sugar (or your preferred sweetener) to taste, adjusting for your own preference and based on how sweet the fruit is to begin with. Add enough ice to your liking. As an option, you can garnish with a piece of an ingredient in the agua. For example, a sprig of rosemary, a stick of cinnamon, or slices of lemon. Pour into ice-filled glasses.