Watermelon Italian Soda Syrup & Watermelon Infused Water

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Watermelon Syrup (from an actual watermelon)

This syrup is so easy to make.  I had a small roundish watermelon that was just a bit to mushy to enjoy eating fresh, so I thought I'd try my hand at watermelon syrup. It turned out delicious splashed in sparkling water and also excellent splashed into sparkling wine-- YES a Watermelon Mimosa! Don't mind if I do!

Here is what I did:

1. Scoop out all the watermelon flesh and blend it all up in your blender.   Mine had lots of little seeds.  No big deal.  

2. After it is liquidized, dump it in a stainer.  I had to use a spoon to stir up the watermelon in the strainer to get as much juice as possible out.  I really wanted to use my muslin bag to get the juice strained, but, alas, I couldn't locate my bag.  (Don't throw that pulp away-- make infused water-- see below)

3.  Pour the strained juice into an appropriately sized pot and turn it on medium.  (I ended up with a quart of juice.)  You are looking to heat the liquid gently.  The key is to gently simmer.  DO NOT BOIL. 

4.  Squeeze in juice from a lime, and add 1/2 sugar (or none at all, the sugar is merely a personal preference.).  The lime and sugar will help the syrup to last a bit longer in the fridge, but this syrup is basically like a fruit juice and should be treated the same way.  

5.  Allow the juice to simmer down and decrease in volume by at least 25%.  Taste the juice as you go along and decide what you like.   (I ended up with about 3 cups of syrup).

6.  Decant into a jar, pitcher, etc.  Allow to cool and splash in a tablespoon of vanilla extract.  Refrigerate.

Now, for the fun part.  Add a 1/4 cup per cup of sparkling water for a sweeter soda or just a splash for a flavored water.  Or add syrup to shaved ice for a fresh snow cone, or a splash in sparkling water for a yummy mimosa.  

 Watermelon Infused Water

Making Watermelon Infused Water

BUT hold on!  That watermelon pulp still has flavor.  Make some watermelon infused water.  Pop that pulp into a pitcher of filtered water.  Let it infuse for at least 20 minutes.  Again, strain out the watermelon pulp and you will be left with a lightly infused watermelon water.  Refreshing, no added sugar, and that little bit of flavor for a perfect refreshing drink.