Watermelon Lime and Mint Mocktail

Got a watermelon and only two of you to enjoy it? We've got the perfect solution to use up that leftover watermelon: a refreshingly zesty Watermelon Lime and Mint Mocktail (non-alcoholic)! It’s the perfect thirst-quencher for those hot summer days, and oh-so-simple to whip up.

I love making my watermelon strawberry and mint salad or watermelon and grilled halloumi salad, but I don’t so much love having so much watermelon leftover – it takes up so much room in the refrigerator and inevitably leaves behind a sticky mess.   Enter this drink that is refreshing anytime of the day. Plus, if you're feeling a little cheeky, we've got a grown-up twist to turn this mocktail into a cocktail. Let's get slicing and sipping!

Pam's Best Tips

Alright, let’s chat about watermelons! My husband, Mark, can never walk by a fruit stand without buying a watermelon. It’s like he has a built-in radar for them! But how do you know if a watermelon is ripe and ready for the juiciest mocktail ever?

Here’s the scoop:

1. Uniform Size: Whether it’s oval or round, a watermelon should have a consistent shape.
2. Heavier is Better: If it feels heavier than it looks, that's a good sign it's sweeter and juicier.
3. Imperfections are Perfect: Look for little imperfections or webbing on the skin. These marks mean the melon has been seeping out sugar – a surefire sign of sweetness.

Now that you’ve picked the perfect watermelon, it’s time to cut it into cubes – which can be a bit intimidating. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. The first essential tool you’ll need is a trusty chef’s knife. Ready? Follow my step-by-step guide with photos for cutting watermelon, and you'll be a pro in no time!

What you'll need

Let’s quickly chat about some of the key ingredients you will need.

• seedless watermelon chunks – Look for a small seedless watermelon that feels heavier than it’s size, and imperfections are good.  Indicating the melon is seeping sugar which means it will be sweeter.  Read more about tips on buying watermelon below.
• honey, agave or sugar – I opt for good ole granulated sugar, but feel free to use honey or agave I would start with ½ the amount of sugar that the recipe calls for and add more as needed.
• fresh lime juice
• water or sparkling water
• fresh mint sprigs

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make watermelon lime and mint mocktail

Alright, got your ingredients and tools ready?  Here’s how to make this refreshing watermelon mocktail.  It’s a great use up strategy of any leftover watermelon.  

Step 1: Prepping the Watermelon:

• Pick the Perfect Melon: Choose a watermelon that's firm and symmetrical. It should feel heavy for its size and have a creamy yellow spot where it sat on the ground ripening in the sun.  Read more in the how to pick a ripe watermelon section below.
• Cutting watermelon
  • Place the watermelon on a cutting board and slice off both ends.
  • Stand the melon upright on one of the flat ends. Carefully cut down the sides to remove the rind.
  • Cut the flesh into 1-inch slices, then into cubes. You need about 4-6 cups for this recipe, so snack on the rest or save it for later!

Step 2: Juicing the limes

• Roll the limes on the counter with your palm to release the juices. Cut them in half and use a juicer (or your hands if you’re feeling strong!) to extract the juice. You need about ¼ cup.

Step 3: Mixing it up:

• Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour the watermelon mixture over the ice, filling each glass about two-thirds full.
• Top off with water, club soda or sparkling water, and give it a gentle stir.
• Serve immediately, garnish with a sprig of mint and a slice of lime for that extra touch of pizzazz!  Or you can chill for up to 3 days in advance.

Turning Mocktail into Cocktail

Feeling a bit cheeky? Transform this delightful mocktail into a party-perfect cocktail:

• Simply add 1-2 ounces of white rum or vodka per serving after blending the watermelon mixture. Stir well before topping with club soda.

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How to cut watermelon into cubes

No matter how you slice it, cutting a watermelon can be intimidating.  Here is my way to cut a watermelon into cubes for this salad.  You’ll want a chef’s knife for this task.

Using a chef’s knife, cut a small slice off the end of the watermelon

Stand the watermelon on one end.  Holding the top of the watermelon with one of your hands, carefully slice off the rind in sections from top to bottom, rotating the melon as you go.  Go back and trim away any remaining white. 

Cut peeled melon in half and slice each half into slabs of desired thickness.  If you do not have a seedless watermelon, you can remove seeds using a spoon to scoop out before cutting into slabs

Lay each slab on its side and cut into chunks.

How to pick a watermelon

Do you find it difficult to choose a watermelon from the bunch at your grocery store? Here are a few tips for how you can pick the perfect watermelon every time!

• Find a watermelon that is a uniform size (oval or round) either is ok. You just want to watch out for irregular bumps.
•  Pick up the melon, if it feels heavy for its size this usually means it will be sweeter and have more water content.
• You want your watermelon to have an orange creamy field spot. The darker yellow field spot usually means it was on the vine longer.  Yep it will be full of flavor.  But, if the field spot is white that’s a sign that the melon is not quite ripe.
• Look for imperfections or what are  “webbing” or “sugar spots” this means that the melon is seeping out sugar --  a good sign the melon will be sweet.
• Dark & dull melons is a ripe melon.  Inversely, when the melon is shiny it is underripe.

Equipment

• Chef’s knife – I use my favorite 8-inch chef’sknife, the Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro 8” Chef’s Knife, in the test kitchen all day, every day – and it’s size is capable of removing the rind from a watermelon and cutting into chunks.
• Cutting board – This teakhaus edge grain cutting board is perfect for many kitchen tasks.
• Citrus press – I like the Chef'n Fresh Force citrus press for its ability efficiently juice lemons and limes.

Related

Looking for other drink recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with watermelon lime and mint mocktails: