Pineapple Basil Agua Fresca (Printer-friendly)

Sweet pineapple and fragrant basil combine with lime for a refreshing, cooling beverage.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruits & Herbs

01 - 1 medium ripe pineapple, peeled, cored, and chopped (about 4 cups)
02 - 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
03 - 1 lime, juiced

→ Sweetener

04 - 2 to 3 tablespoons agave syrup or honey, to taste

→ Liquid

05 - 3 cups cold water

→ Garnish

06 - Pineapple wedges
07 - Fresh basil sprigs
08 - Lime slices
09 - Ice cubes

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine chopped pineapple, basil leaves, lime juice, and sweetener in blender. Add 2 cups cold water and blend on high speed until completely smooth.
02 - Pour blended mixture through fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into large pitcher, pressing solids to extract all liquid and remove pulp.
03 - Stir remaining 1 cup cold water into pitcher. Taste and adjust sweetness to preference.
04 - Refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes if time permits, or serve immediately over ice cubes.
05 - Pour into serving glasses and garnish each with pineapple wedges, fresh basil sprigs, and lime slices if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like summer in a glass but takes barely ten minutes to make, which means you can actually enjoy the day instead of sweating in the kitchen.
  • The basil-pineapple combo is unexpected enough that people always ask for the recipe, making you look far more creative than the effort deserves.
02 -
  • If you skip the straining step thinking the pulp adds nutrition, you'll end up with a grainy texture that settles at the bottom and feels nothing like agua fresca; straining is not optional no matter how good your intentions.
  • Basil oxidizes and darkens if you let the drink sit too long before serving, so make this close to when you plan to drink it rather than a day ahead, unless you want it to taste slightly musty.
03 -
  • The ripeness of your pineapple determines everything—a deeply golden one that smells almost intoxicating at the base will taste sweet enough that you might need less agave, while a paler yellow one might need a full three tablespoons of sweetener.
  • Frozen pineapple chunks work brilliantly if fresh isn't available, and they double as ice cubes so your drink doesn't get watery as they melt.
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