Enjoy this delicious, refreshing and easy to make Cucumber Agua Fresca (Agua de Pepino). Add tequila or vodka to make the perfect agua fresca cocktail!
This is a classic Mexican beverage perfect for any time hot summer's day. I like to add tequila or vodka to make spiked agua fresca much like the cocktails served at Joyride Taco House.
With or without booze, this recipe will become your favorite!
How to make Cucumber Agua Fresca
Making this cucumber drink is even easier than making my beloved Horchata! It's a matter of cutting the cucumber in chunks and blending them with water in a blender then straining it to remove the chunks. That's it!
Keep the cucumber's peel as that's where most of the beneficial nutritional value is found.
The proportions of water to sugar, are completely a matter of taste, so adjust the recipe as you like but my formula is to do: 1 cup of water per cucumber with 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Personally I add 1 packet of non calorie sweetener per glass when trying to avoid sugar and this is another option for you!
To make Cucumber Agua Fresca simply add the cucumber chunks in a blender, add some water and puree. Then pass the mixture thru a strainer to remove any pulp you may have left.
For the rest of the instructions just follow the different variations below for this drink.
Variations for this Agua De Pepino
One of the best things of this drink is that it's so versatile and adjustable according to taste! Here are just a few ways that you can change it up.
- The regular way: Cucumber + Water + Sugar
- With limes: Add 1 lime per cucumber or adjust to taste.
- Sugar Free: Instead of using regular sugar, sweeten it with your favorite non calorie sweetener.
- With booze: Add 1 shot of good tequila or vodka to each individual serving
Q&A
What does agua fresca mean? This simply means fresh water. What it really means in Mexico is that it's made fresh daily without preservatives!
How long does agua fresca last in fridge? This particular Cucumber drink tastes better if consumed within two days. My best suggestion is for you to make it the day you plan to drink it.
Can I mix it with other fruits or vegetables? You can mix it with peach or apple but the color of the drink would not look that good ;). My suggestion is to add a couple of celery stalks to make it a super food smoothy!
Enjoy!
Cucumber Agua Fresca - 4 ways
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
Version #1
- 4 cucumbers washed very well & cut in small chunks (discard the ends)
- 4 cups water divided
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar adjust to taste
Version #2 - With Limes
- Juice of 4 large limes
- 1/4 cup additional sugar if needed
Version #3 - Sugar Free
- 1/3 cup Truvia or your favorite non calorie sweetener Note: Truvia is the closest in flavor to real sugar and it dissolves well.
Version #4 - With alcohol
- 1 shot of good tequila or vodka to each individual serving
Instructions
- Version #1
- In a blender, add 1 cucumber, & 1 cup of water. Process until smooth
- Strain mixture through a strainer into a bowl then transfer to a pitcher. Discard the solids.
- Repeat the process with the remaining cucumbers.
- Add the sugar and mix well.
- Cover and refrigirate for at least an hour.
- Serve over ice (makes about 7 - 8 oz glasses)
- Version #2 - With Limes
- Follow the above process and add the lime juice right before you add the sugar.
- Version #3 - Sugar Free
- Repeat the first process and add Truvia instead of sugar
- Version #4 - With alcohol
- Add the shot of tequila to individual servings.
Notes
- Keep the cucumber's peel as that's where most of the beneficial nutritional value is found.
- Calories are for version #1 made with 1/2 cup of sugar.
Nutrition
Original published date: April 2015. Albondigas Soup was updated in March 2020 to revise the content and photographs. The original recipe remains the same. Enjoy!
Can’t wait to make this agua fresca this weekend! Thank you Ana!