For a refreshing blend of several flavors, try this watermelon and mint lemonade recipe to pair with a snack or light meal!

Note: the original version of this recipe appeared in the May 28, 2021 edition of The Salem News.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of fresh watermelon juice from a seedless watermelon
• ¾ cup of fresh lemon juice (will require 3 to 4 standard lemons)
• ¾ cup of water
• ½ cup of sugar
• 6 thinly sliced fresh mint leaves

Directions:

1. Combine the water, sugar, mint leaves, and half of a lemon in a small saucepan, bringing them to a boil.
2. Let these ingredients simmer together for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until all of the sugar has dissolved.
3. Set the mixture aside for about an hour so that it can cool and form into a syrup.
4. Strain the mint leaves out once the syrup has cooled.
5. Cut a seedless watermelon into cubes and puree them in a blender or a food processor.
6. Pour the pureed watermelon into a fine sieve, pushing the pulp through with a large spoon.
7. Continue this process until you have 4 cups of watermelon juice, and discard remaining pulp.
8. Squeeze the juice from the 3 to 4 lemons until you get ¾ cup.
9. Mix the watermelon juice, lemon juice, and the syrup mixture in a pitcher.
10. Drop 5 to 6 large mint leaves into the pitcher and mix them in well to activate that extra mint flavor.
11. Serve the completed watermelon and mint lemonade over ice, garnished with another mint leaf and a slice of lemon.

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