Watermelonade Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Merrill Stubbs

May25,2010

4.4

5 Ratings

Serves 10

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

My sister and some friends recently threw me a lovely bridal shower. The food, provided by Go Catering, was delicious. Happy guests devoured crudités, curried chicken salad, mini grilled cheese sandwiches with bacon, sausage rolls, and homemade currant and ginger scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam. To drink, there was a crisp rosé and a refreshing concoction of fresh watermelon, lemon, sugar and water known as "watermelonade." Apparently, it's one of the caterer's specialties, and everyone raved about the juicy, pink drink. This past weekend, I couldn't resist attempting it myself. —Merrill Stubbs

Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients

¹/₂ cupsugar
4 cupscubed watermelon
3 ¹/₂ cupswater
¹/₂ cupfreshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions

Bring sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring sugar to dissolve. Set aside.
Put the cubed watermelon in a blender and puree until smooth, about 20 seconds. Strain through a fine mesh sieve. You should have about 2 cups of strained watermelon juice.
Mix the sugar syrup with 3 cups cold water and the lemon juice. Stir well.
Fill glasses with ice, add about 3 tablespoons of watermelon juice and then top off with lemonade. Stir gently before serving.

Tags:

Fruit
Lemon Juice
Melon
5 Ingredients or Fewer
Serves a Crowd
Summer
Alcohol-Free Drinks
Vegan
Vegetarian
Breakfast
Hors D'Oeuvre
Snack

See what other Food52ers are saying.

Cookie
Gingarr
Brigb
Ontariobnd
the_lewist
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Popular on Food52

20 Reviews

Cookie May 29, 2022

I make this all the time, but I juice the watermelon so that there's no pulp to deal with and make the lemonade separately, with very little sugar given the sweetness of the watermelon. I also add tons of fresh mint, then remove the mint for overnight storage, if any doesn't get finished by my guests (it almost always does.) It's SO refreshing. And it's great with tequila too, not just vodka :) In the 70's, Naked Juice used to market watermelon mint lemonade; been making this ever since they stopped selling it.

Gingarr July 26, 2020

Finally made this after nearly 4 years (or longer?) being on my to-do! Super sweet though with the "lemonade." I'll try watering it down a bit. Lime seems like it would add a good tartness. Otherwise this is a nice summer drink!

Brigb June 10, 2017

It's very tasty, I made it with limes.

Ontariobnd October 21, 2016

I loved this drink!! I became heavier handed with the watermelon juice the second time around. The watermelon totally brought down the tart flavor of the lemonade and added such a fruity wonderful flavor.

pamela N. July 4, 2016

I made this for a fireworks viewing party last night and used it as a base for a signature co*cktail - adding vodka, a spritz of lemon seltzer, blueberries and mint. It was super delicious! Thank you!

James C. June 24, 2015

What kind of alcohol would be good to add to this recipe?

Rebecca L. July 14, 2020

Vodka

FAQs

What do you sprinkle on watermelon? ›

Mint, basil, and thyme are all lovely fresh herbs to chop up and sprinkle over watermelon. The earthy and savoury nature is a fabulous contrast to the sweetness of the melon. Olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, and lime juice are also sensational with watermelon.

Know More ›

What flavor enhances watermelon? ›

Salt is a great way to enhance these fruits' natural sweetness. Salting watermelon also improves the fruit's texture. A little sprinkling of salt brings all the liquid to the surface of the water-rich fruit. As a result, each bite is guaranteed to be juicy and sweet.

Discover More Details ›

What enhances the taste of watermelon? ›

A small sprinkle of salt doesn't just offer a salty-sweet kick, it also brings out the sweetness in the watermelon, making this the perfect hack for when you dig into a lackluster slice. Trust me, I've had people FREAK over this simple trick; it's a game-changer.

What is the spice people put on watermelon? ›

If you're not quite ready to accept and test out salt on watermelon, there's a different seasoning that people enjoy topping fresh fruit with: Tajin chile-lime seasoning. A favorite seasoning mix used in Tex-Mex foods in the South and originally hailing from Mexico, Tajin is a blend of chili peppers, lime, and salt.

Learn More ›

Does watermelon and cantaloupe taste good together? ›

I usually like to mix my watermelon with cantaloupes, grapes, strawberries and blueberries. This depends if they are in season or not. A mixed fruit bowl is definitely the way to go!

Learn More ›

How do you flavor bland watermelon? ›

Dealing With Bland Watermelon

If you slice in and are disappointed with the flavor, we've found that adding lime zest and juice helps pump it up and honestly... adding a little sugar does too.

Keep Reading ›

Should watermelon be mixed with other fruits? ›

It is recommended to avoid mixing watermelons, muskmelons, cantaloupe, and honeydrops with other fruits. “Melons should only be eaten with melons as they are digested more rapidly than other fruits. Melons have high water content, so they might not digest properly when combined with fruits,” said Dr Reddy.

Get More Info Here ›

Can you put anything on watermelon? ›

If you just want to enjoy classic watermelon slices, you can still dress them up a bit for an extra pop of color and flavor. Arrange the slices on a plate and sprinkle the tops with good-quality sea salt and a shower of fresh herbs, like mint, basil and cilantro.