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A wonderfully refreshing, lightly sweet, Strawberry Agua Fresca with Lime. The color is amazing, the flavor nearly perfect, and it’s made with all natural ingredients and no artificial flavors.
Last Saturday morning I headed out to a local farm (Miller Farms Market) to pick a few strawberries. I arrived at 8:00 a.m. sharp just as they were opening for the day and ended up picking more than 20 pounds of strawberries in less than an hour. I worked a small 20 foot section of a very long row near the end of a large field and had to make myself stop before I couldn’t carry any more. I really didn’t have a plan for this many strawberries … so guess what? In addition to this wonderful Strawberry Agua Fresca, we’re going to share several more recipes featuring these gorgeous berries so I hope you love them too!
These are true vine ripened fruits. I’ve never seen strawberries this red all the way through; some are almost maroon in color. One of the first recipes I made was this Strawberry Agua Fresca with Lime. This is a super easy recipe and the drink is seriously refreshing.
There are no artificial ingredients, no food color and very little sugar in this wonderfully refreshing drink. Agua Fresca is Spanish for “cool waters.” In Mexico the drink is often served heavy on the sugar. I wanted to ensure the strawberry and lime flavors didn’t get lost so I lightly sweetened the drink with a simple syrup.
The first time I saw Agua Fresca was in a beautiful post with Papaya and Lime on The View From Great Island. I was immediately smitten with the idea of fruited water. The colors and flavors can’t be beat in this special treat, and, it’s incredibly simple to make. All you need is a good blender and you’re almost there.
The lime adds a terrific layer of flavor without overpowering the strawberries.
Strawberry Agua Fresca is the color of punch flavored Kool-Aid but that’s where the similarities end. It’s fresh and clean, refreshing, addicting and mom (and Gram) approved!
Don’t forget to PIN for later!
A wonderfully refreshing, lightly sweet summer drink made with all natural ingredients and no artificial flavors
- 4 cups ripe fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup simple syrup
- 1/3 cup lime juice
- 8 cups cold water
- lime slices for garnish
- To make the simple syrup, combine 1 cup water with 1 cup granulated sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture starts to boil. Remove and cool slightly.
- Place the 4 cups of sliced strawberries in a mixing bowl with a lid or one that can be covered with plastic wrap. Combine 1/2 cup of the simple syrup with 1 cup of the cold water and pour over the strawberries. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 8.
- Pour the strawberries and all accumulated juice into a blender and process until smooth.
- Set a fine mesh strainer over a pitcher. Pour the strawberry mixture through the strainer to remove the seeds. Do this process twice if needed. Use a spoon to press the juice and pulp through the mesh as needed. Discard the seeds and pulp.
- Add 7 cups of cold water and the fresh lime juice to the strawberry mixture in the pitcher. Refrigerate until ready to serve or serve immediately over ice garnished with sliced lime.
Pass the remaining 1/2 cup of simple syrup to your guests if they prefer a sweeter drink.
We can’t get enough of these fresh fruity drinks like our Strawberry Agua Fresca. With so many wonderful recipes from super creative bloggers, we can’t wait to try this Piña Colada Agua Fresca from Tried and Tasty, and this gorgeous Papaya and Lime Agua Fresca from The View from Great Island. How about this creative recipe from Boulder Locavore ~ for Champagne Mango-Lime Agua Fresca? I’m getting thirsty just thinking about a refreshing Berry Ginger Agua Fresca ~ from Cookin Canuck!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a lovely weekend.
Tricia
Gerlinde @ Sunnycovechef says
May 31, 2015 at 11:13 amWe have very sweet aqua fresca here in Santa Cruz, you looks refreshing and not to surgery. I will pin it and make it soon.
Tricia Buice says
May 31, 2015 at 6:23 pmThanks Gerlinde! You can pass additional simple syrup for those that like a sweeter drink. I thought it was just right 🙂
Monica says
May 30, 2015 at 9:34 pmI literally just stepped away from the table after eating about a pound of strawberries just now, Tricia! They were not as amazing as yours but boy oh boy, are strawberries so good and plentiful right now. I’m taking advantage during this short window to devour them (and to think I didn’t like berries growing up)! I’ve never had strawberry agua fresca. How refreshing and totally beautiful to serve friends. I’m glad you got the 20+ lbs. of strawberries – that should be just about enough to eat, with a few left for some recipe making. ; )
Tricia Buice says
May 31, 2015 at 6:23 pmYou should have seen how many I ate while cleaning them Monica! Love strawberries and they are perfect in everything from salads to ice cream, breakfast lunch or dinner. Smoothies too – I almost forgot 🙂
Daniela says
May 30, 2015 at 3:51 pmWe just arrived in Vienna and it’s so warm here that I’m longing for this colorful, refreshing drink. Tomorrow I’ll buy fresh strawberries – huesos for what 🙂
Jane says
May 30, 2015 at 3:19 pmThanks this was great
Susan says
May 30, 2015 at 1:43 pmWhat gorgeous berries! There won’t be any local strawberries here until sometime in June. What a delightful way to use them. I know I would love it and I think I know two little boys who might like this drink too on a hot, summer day 🙂 I can almost taste it already!
Tricia Buice says
May 30, 2015 at 3:21 pmIt is so refreshing – I had to stop myself from drinking all of it! Enjoy 🙂
Sippitysup says
May 29, 2015 at 6:36 pmLiving is Los Angeles I see a lot of so-so aqua fresca. Yours is so much more refined. It’s making me thirsty. GREG
Tricia Buice says
May 30, 2015 at 8:16 amI bet you do see a great variety – in the East it’s not as popular. Guess we should change that! Thanks for stopping by Greg. Hope you have a very nice weekend.
Becky Green says
May 29, 2015 at 11:11 amThis sounds & looks SO GOOD Tricia!!! Thank you for sharing this recipe with us!!!! Will HAVE TO try!!! 😉 Just thinking of adding a little of this to TEA…!!!! OH YUM!!!! 😉
Tricia Buice says
May 29, 2015 at 12:23 pmThat sounds great Becky. Strawberry Tea – what a great idea – you should blog it 🙂 Have a lovely weekend!
Beth says
May 29, 2015 at 6:41 amI’m looking forward to all those strawberry recipes! Your berries look wonderful – there’s nothing like fresh fruit picked right from the field. Sounds like a refreshing drink.
Tricia Buice says
May 29, 2015 at 12:24 pmIt is very refreshing Beth – thanks for stopping by!
[email protected]'s Recipes says
May 29, 2015 at 5:53 amIt must be very very FRESH and tasty!
Tricia Buice says
May 29, 2015 at 12:27 pmIt is so fresh tasting Angie – thanks and have a great weekend!
michael says
May 28, 2015 at 8:59 pmHi Tricia! I have never had Strawberry Agua Fresca but it sure looks delicious!!
Tricia Buice says
May 29, 2015 at 12:27 pmIt is wonderful Michael. If you find you have some extra strawberries – I hope you’ll give it a try. Have a wonderful weekend – I bet you are so busy with the family stuff!
cheri says
May 28, 2015 at 8:51 pmHi Tricia, how amazing that you picked your own strawberries, but 20 pounds that itself had to be a small feat. Love, love this drink, looks so refreshing.
Tricia Buice says
May 29, 2015 at 12:28 pmI think I missed my calling Cheri – I seem to make a pretty good field hand! I love working outside. Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Chris Scheuer says
May 28, 2015 at 8:39 pmThis is so beautiful and looks so delicious. I can see you had as much fun in the strawberry patch as I did. I lost all sense of reason! Can’t wait to see your other strawberry creations!
Tricia Buice says
May 29, 2015 at 12:29 pmCan’t wait to see your strawberry recipes too Chris! Have a nice weekend!
Toni | BoulderLocavore says
May 28, 2015 at 8:08 pmThere really is nothing that tastes like a fully ripe, freshly picked strawberry. It has ruined me for those in the store especially out of their natural season. This sounds like summer-perfection Tricia!
Tricia Buice says
May 29, 2015 at 12:29 pmAmen Toni! I was thinking it would be good with a little rum or something too. Fresh and tasty for summer evenings on the deck. Have a great weekend.
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
May 28, 2015 at 7:22 pmThis is a perfect summer drink! I’m definitely going to be trying this when strawberry picking season rolls around here (a couple of weeks away yet 🙂
Tricia Buice says
May 29, 2015 at 12:30 pmYeah Jennifer – hope you like it! We have blueberries, raspberries and blackberries coming in a few weeks – can’t wait to pick those too. Have a wonderful weekend!
Monique says
May 28, 2015 at 6:32 pmIt looks like summer!
Tricia Buice says
May 29, 2015 at 12:30 pmIt tastes like summer Monique. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
May 28, 2015 at 6:25 pmOh that color! I am dying to pick some strawberries, isn’t it amazing how different they taste when they are red all the way through like they’re supposed to be? I fell in love with agua fresca last year and plan to do lots of them this season. Pinning and sharing!
Tricia Buice says
May 29, 2015 at 12:31 pmIt took me days to get through all 20 pounds and I gave 1/2 pound to my daughter-in-law. Thank you for introducing me to agua fresca – I love your papaya recipe and want to try it too. Have a great weekend!