Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca – Pepino Con Limón
Cucumber lime agua fresca brings back memories of migrant farmwork and picking cotton. Pepino is refreshing. My amá, mom, swore by it.
Picture us teenagers in the cotton fields, on the ground, by the shade of the pickup truck, the sweltering Texas heat unabating. We are wilting, so amá slices some cucumber and shares it among us kids. Cool, soothing. It did relieve heat fatigue and even sometimes nausea from over-exertion. Picking cotton is hell.
Pair lime with the cucumber and you can take a blessed break from the Texas heat. Southern Asia and India are where Pepino first grew and now it’s at home here and in most parts of the world.
This cucumber lime agua fresca recipe has hardly any sugar. The small amount of fresh lime serves to perk up the cucumber flavor so you really should not taste lime as a separate flavor.
We’re not making cucumber limeade here. Agua means “water.” If you keep this in mind you’ll steer clear of making cucumber juice or cucumber-flavored limeade. I think an agua fresca should feel and taste like naturally flavored ice-cold water.
I’m glad to share this recipe. I think amá would smile approvingly.
Recipe for cucumber lime agua fresca
Ingredients (makes 2 quarts)
2 cucumbers, about 8″long, peeled, chopped coarsely
2 quarts filtered water
2 1/2 Tbs sugar
1 small lime, skin and white pith removed
Method
1. Place all the ingredients in the blender and blend on high
2. Keep it going until there are no small particles and the beverage is completely smooth. If there are some particles in it and you are a stickler like me, strain it through a fine mesh sieve.
Chill it for a couple of hours and serve with lots of ice.
¡Salud!
PS: I, (from time to time), make a highball cocktail by combining the agua fresca with 2 ounces of Pimm’s #1, a British herbal liqueur which goes very well with cucumber.
I wonder if Hendrick’s Cucumber & Rose Gin would work with the Agua Fresca? I great with tonic and slices of cuke.