Watermelon Ginger Beer

Name: Watermelon Ginger Beer
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4 drinks
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons fresh fennel fronds (optional); Filtered water; 6 cups (1-inch) cubed red watermelon (from about 3 pounds watermelon); 2 cups ginger beer, homemade or store-bought (see Tip)

By Nicole Taylor

Updated June 26, 2024

Watermelon Ginger Beer — Kelly Marshall for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Roscoe Betsill. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.

Total Time: 10 minutes
Rating: 4(215)
Comments: Read comments

The recipe for this batch drink, from Nicole Taylor’s book, “Watermelon and Red Birds,” includes the juice from a red-fleshed watermelon, ideally from one with seeds. (They can be hard to find; seedless melons work too.) If you own a juicer, proceed with the seeds and all and don’t worry about straining. Watermelon is over 90 percent water and is a nutrient-dense food. This drink can serve as an everyday accompaniment at breakfast, lunch, dinner or with a snack.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 drinks

2tablespoons fresh fennel fronds (optional)
Filtered water
6cups (1-inch) cubed red watermelon (from about 3 pounds watermelon)
2cups ginger beer, homemade or store-bought (see Tip)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
Divide the fennel fronds, if using, between two ice cube trays. Fill with filtered water and freeze until solid, 4 to 8 hours.
Step 2
Meanwhile, place the watermelon in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Scrape the sides of the blender or food processor using a rubber spatula and blend again.
Step 3
Place a fine metal sieve over a large bowl and strain the pureed watermelon through the sieve. (This should yield 2 to 3 cups of juice). Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve; it will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Step 4
To serve, fill four highball glasses or rocks glasses with the ice cubes. Stir the watermelon juice and add ½ cup to each glass. Top off with ½ cup ginger beer.

Tip

Unlike ginger ale, ginger beer is fermented. It’s nonalcoholic and has a spicy kick and tends to have more flavor than the soft drink. If buying ginger beer from the store, try finding the options from Barritt’s or Bruce Cost.

Ratings

4 out of 5

215 user ratings

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Comments

Rt66Gal3 years ago

Fever Tree (the refreshingly light version-- less sugar, no artificial sweeteners) is by far the best store bought ginger beer

Rachel McKay3 years ago

The recipe intro says to blend seeds and all with no need to strain. Seeded watermelons are so much better! I think that seedless ones are sad due to being the end of the line instead being lifegiving.

Donna3 years ago

With a little splash of rum, this could be a not-so-dark and stormy. Yum.

Yasin11 months ago

I prefer to make my ginger beer with sparkling water, limes, fresh ginger and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Jeanie S11 months ago

I make ginger syrup. Fresh ginger gently boiled in water, strain, use the ginger water with sugar and more fresh ginger. Them use my soda stream for fresh ginger ale, or ginger lemonade. Also great on oatmeal, yogurt, ice cream. String flavor gives punch to anything with very little calories or sugar.

Greg B1 year ago

Australian Bundaberg Ginger Beer works very well here. It is available in the US through Cracker Barrel stores

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