Get through the hot weather with this hydrating watermelon refresher. A hint of mint and a tincture of ginger adds a perfect cooling flavour. How much cooler can this drink get?
Did you know Watermelon is made up of 92% water? Staying true to its name, right?. This fruit originated in Africa, where it was harvested only for its water content. At the time, watermelon had an unpleasant and bitter flavour but years of selective breeding made them extra sweet and tasty. There are many more facts about watermelon that will take you by surprise like, every single portion of watermelon is consumable. Yes, including rinds, seeds, and skin. And the best part is that all of them are incredibly packed with nutrients.
Watermelon rinds are a good source of fiber which helps aid in digestion. Diets high in fiber can enhance gut health and help manage cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Rinds are also high in certain amino acids that help reduce blood pressure. While watermelon seeds are actually quite nutritious with high levels of magnesium, zinc, and protein. A great immune booster.
Watermelon is a natural diuretic and contains citrulline that helps the liver and kidneys in getting rid of ammonia. Watermelon contains Beta-Carotene (A type of Vitamin A) that helps in preventing macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of age-related blindness. It is full of Vitamin A, B6, C, Amino Acids, and antioxidants that contribute to healthy skin. It is also high in potassium, a mineral that could cut down on cramps at the gym. Watermelon juice helps relieve muscle soreness after a workout. Also, the amino acid and Vitamin C that is present in watermelon help speed up the recovery time of wounds.
Skip to recipe Watermelon Refresher Recipe or continue reading for tips and stages of making the recipe.
And oh yeah!!! Do not throw away watermelon rinds. I have a perfect use for it....
If you like, you can juice watermelon rind along with its pulp, or even better, make a delicious curry out of it. As crazy as it may sound, it tastes crazy amaaaaazing. I have a perfect watermelon curry recipe which I will soon share. You can also pickle watermelon rinds just like my Pickled Raddish Salad.
After all these uses, I am sometimes left with a surplus pulp and rind. Hmmm... what do I do? I put it in my compost bin to give me nutrient-rich soil for my veggie garden. How good is that? Zero waste.
You must be thinking, what about fibers? Our body needs that too. I’ve got you covered, you can incorporate the squeezed-out pulp back into your diet through many other means such as making watermelon halwa, sorbet, jam, or adding it to salads, etc. Guess what, you can also use watermelon pulp as a face mask to soften and rejuvenate your skin. Isn't this cool?
How long this juice lasts?
Cold-pressed juice can stay fresh in the fridge for 24 to 48 hours. However, it tastes amazing freshly juiced.
What type of juicer should I use?
I use a cold press juicer which extracts juice by first crushing and then pressing fruit and vegetables for the highest juice yield. Because they don't produce as much heat, they keep more of the fresh ingredients and nutrients intact. The heat produced by conventional juicers destroys some of the nutrients and vitamins and causes separation with a thick oxidised froth at the top and sediment at the bottom.
If you do not have a cold press juicer, you can still make this juice with your regular juicer but drink it immediately to make most of the benefits. Try and use organic fruits and veggies for juicing.
What are the benefits of juicing?
Many say juicing can reduce your risk of cancer, strengthen your immune system, detox your body, keep your guts healthy, aid digestion, prevent dehydration and help you lose weight (obviously, accompanied by regular exercise and other dietary supplements). I say there are many benefits to healthy juicing, especially when you are tired of eating fruits and veggies as is in large quantities.
If you have any queries related to the recipe or equipment I have used please feel free to drop a line in the comment box.
Look how easy it is to juice watemelon. Squeeze in a few drops of lemon juice as well to add a zing.
Wondering what's that white stuff on the glass rim? It looks fancy, doesn't it? I love the look too. It is actually salt but you can use sugar or chaat masala. If interested to know how I put it on the rim then keep an eye out for Qitchen hacks in the hackery section. I will make a separate post for this so you can use it to serve different drinks or desserts and instantly draw all eyes to your dish.
"For a prefect summer thirst quencher, sip on this hydrating watermelon refresher. Aaaah.....!!!"
Check out my recipe by clicking the link below:
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