This Sparkling Watermelon Lemonade is everything summer should taste like — sweet, bright, naturally pink, and endlessly refreshing. Fresh watermelon is blended and strained for a silky juice, then shaken with freshly squeezed lemon and topped with sparkling water. Make a big pitcher and watch it vanish at any cookout.
Add watermelon cubes to a blender in batches and blend until completely smooth. No need to add water — ripe watermelon provides its own juice. Work in batches if needed.
Pour the blended watermelon through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher, pressing gently with a spoon to extract all the juice. Discard the pulp. You should have about 4 cups of pure watermelon juice.
Stir in the fresh lemon juice and honey (or simple syrup). Taste as you go — the sweetness will depend on your watermelon's ripeness. Start with 3 tbsp sweetener and adjust upward. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Fill a large pitcher or individual glasses with ice. Pour in the watermelon-lemon base, filling about ¾ full. Top with sparkling water. Stir gently so you don't lose all the bubbles.
Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh mint and a lemon wheel. Serve immediately. For a party, keep the watermelon base and sparkling water separate, combining just before serving to preserve fizz.
For 8 servings
