Watermelon & Cucumber RefreshMINT
We’re almost through Houston’s blistering Summer season, and at this point I think we can all appreciate a low-effort recipe to help you beat the heat. If you visit the Rice Village or Heights Mercantile farmers markets during this time of year, you can find beautiful watermelon from Ma-mere’s Maison. One of the best ways to enjoy this seasonal treat is combining it with other light and bright market ingredients like cucumber and mint. This refresher was the perfect solution to my leftover watermelon, and is a new post market favorite. Come to the light side and sip on locally sourced sunshine!
During these summer months, it is crucial to hydrate and maintain a healthy balance of minerals in your body. It just so happens that mineral rich produce is season during the summer to help you do just that.
The star of the refresher -watermelon- a good source of vitamins B, C, and E as well as minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and iron. Additionally, watermelon contains phytochemicals such as lycopene, vitamin C, and β-carotene that are shown to possess anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties.
And of course, because the water content of watermelon and cucumber is so high, this refresher will keep you extremely hydrated. Especially because you’ll keep coming back for seconds!
Here’s a run down of the lovely vendors you can source from to create this recipe!
Ma-Mere’s Maison is proud to offer the highest quality, most delicious jellies on the market today, grown and made by Jay Hiebert. They put lots of love and careful attention in each item and have recently been bringing lovely watermelons to the market!
Plant it Forward works with independent, professional farmers with refugee backgrounds to grow and distribute fresh produce throughout the community. At our market locations we work with farmer Materanya “Pierre” Ruchinagiza, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Each market he brings delicious vegetables and good conversation. He’s an amazing asset to the markets and his farming knowledge is invaluable!
Bee2Bee provides beekeeping services and hyper local Houston honey. They sell batches of honey separated by the neighborhoods the hives are located in, as well as infusions, and beehive products.
Share the love! If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to share photos and tag the vendors who provided the ingredients! One of the best ways to support these local, small businesses is by spreading the word and sharing your market finds with friends and family. And of course, if you stop by the Rice Village or Heights Mercantile markets striking up conversations with the vendors will always have you walking away with wonderful recipe ideas.
Ingredients
8 cups watermelon to start, add more if you want to use everything you have or make more refresher (Ma-mere’s Maison)
1 bunch of mint (Plant it Forward)
4-5 small cucumbers (Plant it Forward)
Honey to taste (Bee2Bee)
2 limes
1.5 oz. Richard’s sparkling rainwater
Optional: Add use rum or tequila instead of sparkling water if you want a refreshing adult drink!
Method
Scoop the watermelon flesh out of the rind and place in a blender. You don’t have to worry about removing the seeds, they will be strained out later.
You may need to blend the watermelon as you add so there is enough space in the blender. You can also blend in batches if necessary.
Once the watermelon is pureed completely, add the chopped cucumber, mint leaves, and juice of 2 limes and blend again until the large pieces are broken down.
Place a strainer over a large bowl and pour in half of the blended mix. Use a rubber spatula to work the juice through the strainer and remove the pulp from the strainer when you’ve separated as much liquid as possible. Strain the remaining blended mix.
To assemble the refresher, pour the strained liquid into a glass and follow with your desired amount of sparkling water or liquor. Add honey and more lime to taste, stir, and enjoy!!
We hope to see you at the 1st and 3rd Sunday at Rice Village Farmers Market or 2nd and 4th Sunday at Heights Mercantile Farmers Market. Both markets run from 9-1 pm, with Heights located at 714 Yale St. and Rice located at 2504 Amherst St. These markets operate rain or shine! We will have over 60 vendors, live music, and immaculate vibes.
Thank you for following along and supporting local!
xxCB