Try this Chia Agua Fresca recipe, or contribute your own.
- Carbohydrate 30.1064999950186 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 4.82610624631755 g
- Fiber 6.6062251224511 g
- Protein 4.1246974981419 g
- Saturated Fat 0.500082999619684 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (626g)
- Sodium 17.7745000078055 mg
- Sugar 23.5002748725675 g
- Trans Fat 0.448181374746489 g
- Calories 164 calories
Step-by-step
- Blend watermelon and water together on high.
- Strain watermelon pulp.
- Add the chia seeds and lime juice and thoroughly mix.
- Refrigerate for several hours (or overnight) and serve cold.
Straining blended watermelon through a fine-mesh sieve removes dense fibrous solids, producing a clean juice that suspends chia seeds evenly rather than allowing them to sink immediately. Watermelon contains about ninety-two percent water, meaning excessive blending releases bitter compounds from white pith fragments if the fruit is over-processed. Blend the fruit for exactly thirty seconds on high speed to prevent bitterness.
Pairing this chilled beverage requires balancing its natural sweetness with savory or smoky elements. Grilled shrimp tacos seasoned with chili powder and cumin provide a warm, spiced contrast to the cold, gelatinous texture of hydrated chia seeds. Alternatively, serve alongside blistered shishito peppers tossed in flaky sea salt. The slight bitterness of the peppers cuts through the concentrated fruit sugars.
Allowing the mixture to rest in the refrigerator for at least four hours ensures the chia seeds fully absorb surrounding liquid and develop a pleasant mucilaginous coating. This beverage stores safely in a sealed glass pitcher for up to forty-eight hours at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Freezing is not recommended because thawing causes cellular collapse in both the watermelon liquid and the swollen seeds, resulting in an unappealing separation of phases. Substitute lemon juice at a 1:1 ratio if fresh limes are unavailable.
