Smoky Watermelon Agua Fresca Cooler

To me, watermelon has always tasted like the freedom of summer — that magical moment of sundown where the sky is dark but the heat of the day remains. This agua fresca (a Spanish term that translates to “fresh water”) is my attempt to collapse that sensation into a glass, so that anytime I want to relive that feeling all I have to do is reach into my fridge.

It combines juicy sun-kissed watermelon and crisp lime juice with smoked salt and paprika, which add notes of smoke coming off a grill. As the weather begins warming, it’s perfect for backyard picnics and grill sessions. But it’s also nice on rainy days, when you feel like sipping for the weather you want, and not the weather you have.

When watermelon is blended, the natural sugars are released from the cell walls, which bring out a new personality in the fruit, making it taste as if it has been cooked down with honey. It’s easy to do — simply cut the watermelon into chunks, blend until smooth, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer. And, as a plus, a blended watermelon certainly takes up less space in the refrigerator.

The vibrant red of the agua fresca takes on scenes of summer on its own, but a little topper of soda and a sprig of mint all but puts you on a blanket as you count as many shooting stars as you can.