This Watermelon Mocktail is an easy, refreshing summer drink. Fresh watermelon juice is combined with lime and fresh basil or mint, then topped with some bubbly water. There’s no added sugar and it’s also Paleo and Whole30 friendly.
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Why this recipe works
Watermelon is a popular summer fruit – it’s juicy, refreshing and sweet. This is probably why it’s the most popular melon in the U.S. (sorry, canteloupe and honeydew). It’s also 92% water, which means it also helps keep you hydrated during the hot summer months. And it’s a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, electrolytes and other nutrients.
And while it’s great eaten as is, a quick, healthy mocktail with watermelon is a fun way to enjoy to it, too. You start by making watermelon juice, a simple process of blending watermelon chunks and then straining out the pulp. The result is juice that tastes like the essence of watermelon and, therefore, the essence of summer. Too dramatic? Maybe. But it really is surprisingly good. It’s not that sweet, either, but it’s just sweet enough that it’s not necessary to add any sugar or sweetener.
To turn it into a mocktail, you just have to muddle some lime and fresh herbs in the bottom of a glass to release their juice and flavors. Want a watermelon mint mocktail? Use fresh mint. Prefer a watermelon basil mocktail? Use fresh basil. Either way works.
And if you want a spicy watermelon jalapeno mocktail, throw a few slices of jalapeno in the glass too. It’ll add enough heat without overwhelming the drink.
Then you simply pour in the watermelon juice and ice and top it off with club soda. Your easy summer mocktail is all set!
What you need
Ingredients for 4 drinks
- 1 pound 6 oz. seedless watermelon chunks
- 12 slices of lime (from about 3 limes), plus more for garnish
- 12 large basil or mint leaves, plus more for garnish
- 8 jalapeno slices (optional), from about 1-2 jalapenos
- ice cubes
- club soda
Equipment
- a blender, food processor or stick blender (you’ll also need a large bowl if using a stick blender)
- a large measuring glass
- a fine-mesh sieve
- a spatula (the kind for stirring, not flipping)
- a muddler (or a spoon)
- rocks glasses
How to make this Watermelon Mocktail
Step 1: If you want to use some watermelon as garnish, set aside 2-3 chunks. Add the rest to a blender, food processor or large bowl if using a stick blender. Blend until completely liquified.
Step 2: Set the sieve over the measuring glass. Add some of the watermelon to the sieve and push it through using a spatula. Set aside the remaining pulp in the sieve for another use, such as adding it to a smoothie. Repeat the process until you’re done with all the watermelon.
Step 3: To make the mocktail, add 3 slices of lime and 3 mint or basil leaves to 4 glasses (if using jalapeno, add 2 slices to each glass as well). Use a muddler to press and mash the ingredients so they release their juices and flavors.
Step 4: To each glass, add ice, then pour in 4 oz. (½ cup) watermelon juice. Top with club soda until the glass is almost full. Garnish with lime slices and mint or basil leaves. If using the watermelon as a garnish, cut the chunks into smaller chunks. Then cut a slit in the bottom of each chunk and carefully press it onto the rim of the glass. Then drink up!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You can use canteloupe or honeydew in place of the watermelon.
You can use lemon in place of the lime. Use only 1-2 slices per drink.
You can add flaky sea salt or Tajin to the rim of the glass if you’d like. First run a lime wedge around the outside of the rim, then roll in the salt or Tajin.
The watermelon juice can be made up to 2 weeks in advance and kept in the fridge.
Nope! There is no alcohol in a mocktail recipe. That’s why it’s a “mock”-tail instead of a cocktail.
Yep. This would be good with a shot of vodka, gin, tequila or white rum.
Yep. It contains no animal products of any kind, making it suitable for a vegan lifestyle.
Yep. It contains only real, whole food ingredients with no added sugar, making it suitable for a Paleo lifestyle.
Yes. While you shouldn’t consume a lot of fruit juice during a Whole30 round (eating whole fruit is preferable), a mocktail with no added sweetener of any kind is allowed from time to time.
You might also like:
Watermelon Mocktail (sugar free, healthy)
Ingredients
- 1 pound 6 oz. seedless watermelon chunks
- 12 slices lime from about 3 limes
- 12 large leaves fresh mint or basil
- 8 slices jalapeno (optional)
- ice cubes
- club soda
Instructions
- If you want to use some watermelon as garnish, set aside 2-3 chunks. Add the rest to a blender, food processor or large bowl if using a stick blender. Blend until completely liquified.
- Set a fine-mesh sieve over a large measuring glass (at least 4 cups). Add some of the watermelon to the sieve and push it through using a spatula. Set aside the remaining pulp in the sieve for another use, such as adding it to a smoothie. Repeat the process until you're done with all the watermelon.
- To make the mocktail, add 3 slices of lime and 3 mint or basil leaves to 4 rocks glasses (if using jalapeno, add 2 slices to each glass as well). Use a muddler or a spoon to press and mash the ingredients so they release their juices and flavors.
- To each glass, add ice, then pour in 4 oz. (½ cup) watermelon juice. Top with club soda until the glass is almost full. Garnish with lime slices and mint or basil leaves. If using the watermelon as a garnish, cut the chunks into smaller chunks. Then cut a slit in the bottom of each chunk and carefully press it on to the rim of the glass. Then drink up!
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