Agua Fresca de Pepino

Description
Blended cucumber and lime drink
 * Agua Fresca de Pepino (Blended Cucumber and Lime Drink) from the Public Health Cookboook by the Seattle & King County Department of Public Health—original source of recipe, public domain government resource
 * Serves: 4

Ingredients

 * 3 quarts water
 * 3 cucumbers, peeled and chopped
 * ½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
 * ¼ cup sugar
 * crushed ice (optional)
 * slice of lime for garnish (optional)

Directions

 * 1) Pour ½ cup of the water and 1 cup of the cucumbers in blender.
 * 2) Blend until cucumbers are pureed then add more cucumbers and water until all cucumbers are pureed.
 * 3) Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain cucumbers into a pitcher to remove seeds and pulp.
 * 4) Stir in remaining water, lime juice and sugar.
 * 5) Chill before serving over crushed ice garnished with a slice of lime.

Tips

 * Instead of cucumbers, use tropical fruits like papayas, guava, pineapple or traditional fruits like orange, pink grapefruit, cantaloupe, watermelon or a combination of 2 or more.