Watermelon Smoothie

If you agree that the best thing about the warmer months ahead is the ability to eat watermelon for every meal, this will be your go-to summer super-smooth smoothie: a refreshing watermelon smoothie.

Cold, creamy and oh-so hydrating, this light pink potion owes its frosty texture to frozen watermelon. Don’t skip this deep-freeze! Watermelon is made up of 92% water, which means it will quickly turn your smoothie soggy if the fruit isn’t fully frozen. Here’s how to make a watermelon smoothie that’s equal parts hydrating and refreshing.

Watermelon smoothies benefit from strong sidekicks in the flavor department. Here’s what you’ll need to make this refreshing smoothie.

• Frozen watermelon: Frozen watermelon is the key to achieving a thick and frosty texture. Room-temperature watermelon will blend into a very watery smoothie, so plan ahead to ensure the watermelon chunks are fully frozen. Here’s some advice for picking out a watermelon, by the way. 
• Frozen strawberries: A handful of frozen strawberries add sweetness and balance.
• Coconut milk: You can substitute any milk as the base liquid in this recipe, but if you’re in the mood for pleasantly tropical morning vibes, stick with the coconut milk — you won’t regret it. 
• Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt, which has a thicker texture and tangier flavor than regular yogurt, adds silky texture.
• Honey: A swirl of honey works hand-in-hand with the strawberries for added sweetness and balance.
• Lime juice: An optional sprinkle of lime juice delivers bright tang.

1. Cut the watermelon: If using a whole seedless watermelon, you’ll want to cut it into quarters. The easiest way to do this is to work with one quarter at a time and make parallel cuts into the flesh. Create a crosshatch pattern by rotating the watermelon quarter 90 degrees and repeating the parallel cuts. Remove the flesh from the rind by using a sweeping motion to slice between the watermelon flesh and rind. Cut the watermelon pieces into 1-inch cubes.
2. Freeze the cubed watermelon: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Place the cut watermelon on the baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze until solid, at least 3 hours or overnight.
3. Gather smoothie ingredients: Place 2 1/2 cups of the frozen watermelon cubes, 1/2 cup frozen strawberries, 1 cup light coconut milk, 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 1/2 teaspoons lime juice if desired in a blender.
4. Blend until smooth and creamy: Blend, stirring as needed, until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Pour smoothie into 2 glasses and enjoy right away.

Feel free to swap out the strawberries for any of the following fruits to really make this smoothie your own.

• Frozen banana
• Frozen pineapple
• Frozen mango
• Frozen peach