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Cucumber Lime Mint Cooler

Posting Date: 09/18/17

Cucumber Lime Mint Cooler is a non-alcoholic drink that I normally make in the summer to use cucumbers and mint leaves from my garden. It is also good as a refreshing drink to cool myself and the most important is the drink is delicious. Several years ago I harvested so many cucumbers every other day that I didn't know what to do with them other than making salad and pickles. After so many salads and pickles, I decided I had to try something new with it. My garden also had mint and it was overgrowing as well. So, I searched the internet and found Cucumber Lime Mint Agua Fresca from simplyrecipes.com. It looked interesting. So, I decided to try it. When I was trying to make it, I noticed it used water and I didn't like it because I didn't want to dilute the cucumber juice with water. So, I made a modification to the recipe and omitted water. Since I omitted water, I had to use more cucumbers to get more liquid which worked out fine for me because I could use up the cucumbers from my garden. The drink was very good. I have been making it every summer and sharing it with other people. They always liked it and asked me for the recipe. I always gave them the original recipe from simplyrecipes.com and explained them the modifications I did. Finally, I decided I had to post my recipe on my website, so that I just have to provide the link without explaining the modifications anymore when people ask for the recipe. Since my recipe uses no water, I cannot called it agua fresca anymore. For that reason, I call it Cucumber Lime Mint Cooler.

Another modification I did in the recipe is I peel the skin off the cucumber before pureeing it in the blender. This makes it easier to pass the juice through the strainer. However, if you prefer not to do it, it is okay, too. I just found from my experience that it is easier that way. As mentioned earlier, I use more cucumbers than the original recipe. I use about 3 long cucumbers. You can use less or more depending on the size of your cucumbers. My gauge on the number of cucumbers to use is based on the amount of the puree in the blender. In my blender, when the blender is full to the top with the puree, it will result in 2 glasses. So, I adjust the number of cucumbers to use based on that target. Since diced cucumbers take up a lot of space in the blender, I normally put some of the diced cucumber first and puree it with sugar, lime juice, and mint leaves. Once it becomes puree, it shrinks in the blender and I can then add more diced cucumbers to fill up the blender.

This recipe makes 2 glasses

Ingredients:

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup lime juice from fresh limes
1/2 cups mint leaves
3 large long cucumbers (about 1500 grams or 3.3 lbs), ends trimmed, skin peeled, and roughly diced

Methods:

Place sugar, lime juice, mint leaves and some of diced cucumbers in a blender until the blender is full. Diced cucumbers take up space in the blender, so I normally put some of the diced cucumbers first and puree them. The blender will then have more space to add the remaining diced cucumbers. At this point, add the remaining cucumbers to the blender until it is full and puree them again. This will give you about 2 glasses of cucumber lime mint cooler.
Place a bowl underneath a fine-mesh strainer. Pour some of the puree into the strainer. Depending on the size of your strainer, you may need to do it in batches. Using rubber spatula, press the puree over the strainer to extract the juice so that the juice can get into the bowl. Once all the juice has been collected in the bowl, discard the puree. Repeat this step until everything remaining in the blender has been extracted.
Pour the juice into a pitcher. Chill it for several hours or overnight before serving.

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