Cucumber-Watermelon Soda

By Adam Lariviere, YMCA Skills Instructor/Chef

Ingredients:

Serves 4

• 1/2 Large watermelon
• 1 English cucumber
• 1/2 Lemon (juiced)
• 10 leafs Fresh mint
• 2 tbsp Honey (optional)
• 1 cup Sparkling water

Method:

1. Cut the rind of the watermelon away with a knife so that only the pink flesh remains.
2. Using a melon baller, scoop one ball of watermelon for each glass that is to be served and set them aside for garnish.
3. Cut the remaining watermelon into 1” cubes.
4. Make one 1/4” thick circular slice of cucumber for each glass to be served and set them aside for garnish.
5. Cut the remaining cucumber into 1” cubes.
6. Wash the mint and set aside one leaf to garnish each glass that is to be served.
7. Purée the cubes of watermelon and cucumber with the honey, lemon juice, and remaining mint using a blender or food processor.
8. Once puréed, pass the cucumber-watermelon juice through a strainer to remove any pulp.

To serve:

1. Fill each glass about 3/4 full with the cucumber-watermelon juice.
2. Top-off each glass with a splash (about 1/4 cup) of sparkling water.

To garnish:

1. Make a small cut half-way through each melon ball so they will fit on the rim of each serving glass.
2. Make a radial cut in each cucumber slice so they will fit on the rim of each serving glass.
3. Place one cucumber slice and one melon ball close together on the rim of each glass.
4. Put one mint leaf between the melon ball and cucumber slice, and squeeze them together to hold the mint leaf in place.