This watermelon sangria is fruity, refreshing, and made for a crowd. Blend fresh melon with white wine and brandy for the easiest summer pitcher!
What’s better for a hot summer afternoon than a cool glass sangria? The music of the ice cubes clinking against the glass is refreshing in itself! So here’s a perfect fruity flavor for this summer: watermelon sangria!
Now, I’m a purist when it comes to sangria (see my red sangria). While this flavor is not a traditional Spanish take, it’s a deliciously sweet way to enjoy this summer fruit. I’ve made this recipe in the style of a traditional sangria: not too sweet, with white wine, brandy, and of course lots of sweet and juicy fruit!
Ingredients for watermelon sangria
SangrÃa is a traditional wine punch that originates from Spain. I’ve lived in Spain for a few months and I adore the classic red sangria, made with red wine and chopped fruit, and often orange juice or brandy. Spaniards also drink white sangria, a version made with white wine.
This watermelon sangria is my own spin on a white sangria that adds watermelon juice for a fruity flair! Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
- Watermelon: Some gets cubed for soaking; the rest gets blended into fresh juice.
- Green apple: This adds a tart crunch.
- Sugar: Just a little, to help the fruit macerate and release its juices.
- Dry white wine: A crisp dry white like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc is great here; if you like more of a sweet sangria you can use a sweeter wine.
- Brandy or Grand Marnier: The backbone spirit — more on that below!
- Fresh mint and lime: For brightness and garnish.
Brandy vs Grand Marnier
Here are a few notes on these two types of liquor:
- Brandy: Use whatever brandy you have on hand. Cognac is a fancy type of brandy if you have that available. You can also use Cognac for a Sidecar or French Connection.
- Grand Marnier is a mix of brandy and orange liqueur: it gives it a little higher end vibe. You can also use it for a Cadillac Margarita!
How to Make Watermelon Sangria
This watermelon sangria as a spin on the traditional Spanish way to make white sangria. The method is inspired by our favorite Spanish chef, Jose Andres. Chef Andres is from Spain and started many successful restaurants here in the US. The “Spanish” way to make sangria that Chef Jose recommends is this:
- Macerate fruit for 20 minutes: Mix the sangria fruit with sugar and let it macerate or stand at room temperature and break down. This helps the fruit flavors permeate the wine even more.
- Make the watermelon juice: Make watermelon juice in a blender.
- Add liquids: Add white wine and brandy. Throw in some lime slices and mint.
- Refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours. This allows the flavors to meld and develop.
Make Ahead Info
With this watermelon sangria, I don’t recommend making it more than 4 hours in advance. Since the fruit is in the liquid, it starts to become soggy. The flavors also start to fade a bit, so don’t plan to make this drink too far in advance!
You can cut up the fruit and even make the watermelon juice beforehand. But don’t start the actual instructions until you’re no more than 4 hours away from serving time.
Tips for the Best Watermelon Sangria
A few things I’ve learned from making this more times than I can count:
- Keep (and eat) the fruit. Thread the wine-soaked watermelon and apple onto skewers as a snackable garnish.
- Chill everything first. Ice waters down sangria fast, chill the wine and the pitcher ahead of time and serve over just a few cubes.
- Adjust the sweetness to taste. Watermelons vary wildly in sweetness; if yours ran mild, add more sugar or a splash of mint simple syrup.
More Watermelon Drinks
Love this vibrant pink summer fruit? Here are my top watermelon drinks to try:
- Watermelon Margarita
- Watermelon Mojito
- Watermelon Smash
- Watermelon Mule
- Watermelon Cocktail with Gin
- Watermelon Vodka Cocktail
- Watermelon Smoothie
What to Serve With It
This pitcher was made for summer parties! I love it alongside any grill recipes like grilled chicken or grilled salmon, paired with summer appetizers for a party, or set it out with something from my summer dinner ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
This one tastes fresh and fruity, with a crisp white-wine backbone. It’s made with real watermelon juice rather than syrup, it tastes clean and juicy instead of overly sweet.
Swap the wine for white grape juice and sparkling water and skip the brandy. Keep the watermelon juice, fruit, mint, and lime, and add an extra squeeze of lime.
Brandy is the traditional pick and my favorite. Grand Marnier adds orange notes.
Only slightly. Assembled sangria is best within about 4 hours before the fruit softens. Prep the fruit and juice up to a day ahead and combine just before serving.
Easy Watermelon Sangria
Pin RecipeWatermelon sangria has the best sweet flavor! A big pitcher made with this juicy fruit is perfect for summer entertaining.
- Prep Time: 90 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Chilled
- Cuisine: Spanish
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 8 cups cubed seedless watermelon, divided
- 1 green apple
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 bottle dry white wine, chilled
- ½ cup brandy or Grand Marnier
- 1 handful mint leaves
- 1/2 lime, sliced into rounds
Instructions
- Chop the watermelon and cut the apple into bite-sized pieces. Add the chopped apples and 2 cups of the watermelon to the bottom of a large pitcher. Sprinkle them with sugar and stir gently. Let them stand for 20 minutes at room temperature.
- After 20 minutes, add the remaining 6 cups of watermelon to a blender and blend until juiced. Pour through a strainer into the pitcher. Add the white wine and brandy, fresh mint and thinly sliced lime rounds. Stir and refrigerate for 1 hour, or as long as 4 hours. (Don’t go beyond 4 hours or the fruit texture starts to degrade.)
- Pour the watermelon sangria into ice-filled glasses. Add fruit to each glass, preferably on long skewers for easy snacking.
More Types of Sangria
from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/S32xXRE
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