Watermelon is one of summer’s greatest pleasures. Here’s an easy-to-make watermelon ricky—a refreshing mocktail that celebrates the season.
If you’re anything like me, you sometimes grab the biggest watermelon in the store because it’s priced per piece. It feels like saving money, until you get it home and realize you’ve got half a melon worth of slices to store. But large watermelons don’t have to be wasted or hog your fridge space. Read on to learn a simple, delicious way to use every bite.
The easiest and most portable solution is to make watermelon juice. It’s incredibly refreshing and you don’t need any special equipment—no juicer or high-speed blender required.
Simply place cut watermelon in a blender and puree until smooth, then press the purée through a fine-mesh strainer. Straining removes fibrous bits and leaves you with clear, sweet watermelon juice ready to drink.
To elevate the presentation, serve the juice in pretty glasses—vintage etched tumblers or coupe glasses make it feel special. A chilled pitcher and a few slices of lime or a wedge of watermelon add a lovely finishing touch.
With a pitcher of fresh watermelon juice ready, you can drink it as-is, or dress it up into a ricky. Stir in the juice of two limes and taste. If your melon isn’t very sweet, add a light sweetener—liquid stevia, a bit of sugar, or your preferred sweetener—until it tastes balanced. Watermelons vary in sweetness, so adjust to preference.
For extra flavor, blend in fresh herbs like mint or lemon balm with the watermelon chunks before straining. To make it a cocktail, add a shot of gin or tequila to each serving. This drink is flexible—keep it simple or make it festive.
Refreshing Summer Watermelon Ricky Sweetened with Stevia
6 servings
15 minutes
15 minutes
Simple to make with fresh watermelon and lime, this mocktail can be sweetened to taste and turned into a cocktail with a splash of gin. It’s perfect for hot afternoons and summer gatherings.
Ingredients
- 6 cups seedless, peeled watermelon chunks
- 2 limes
- 8 drops liquid stevia or 2 small packets, or sweetener of your choice, to taste (optional)
- 1 ounce gin per serving (optional)
Instructions
- Add watermelon to a blender and blend until smooth. High-speed blenders take about 1 minute; less powerful blenders may take 3–4 minutes.
- Strain the blended watermelon through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl with a pour spout, pressing to extract the juice. Transfer to a pitcher.
- Stir in the lime juice and taste. Sweeten lightly if needed, adjusting to your preference.
- Garnish each glass with a lime or watermelon slice. To make cocktails, add gin or tequila to individual servings.
Nutrition Information
Yield 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 53Sodium 2mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 1gSugar 10gProtein 1g
For more ways to use a ripe watermelon, try chilled watermelon gazpacho or a watermelon lemon-balm mint cooler. With these ideas, there’s no reason not to pick the biggest melon at the market.
