Pineapple Jalapeño Agua Fresca (View Print Version)

Sweet pineapple, zesty lime and mild jalapeño heat blended with water and chilled over ice for summer.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruit & Vegetables

01 - 4 cups fresh pineapple, peeled and cubed
02 - 1 medium jalapeño, seeded and chopped (leave seeds for more heat)
03 - 1 lime, juiced

→ Liquids & Sweeteners

04 - 3 cups cold water
05 - 2 tablespoons agave syrup or granulated sugar, or to taste
06 - Ice cubes, for serving

# Method:

01 - Place pineapple, jalapeño, lime juice, agave syrup (or sugar) and cold water into a blender.
02 - Blend on high until the mixture is completely smooth and uniform in texture, about 30–60 seconds.
03 - Taste and adjust: add more agave or sugar for sweetness or additional jalapeño for heat, then pulse briefly to incorporate.
04 - If a smoother, pulp-free beverage is desired, pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing gently with a spoon to extract liquid.
05 - Fill glasses with ice, pour the agua fresca over the ice, and garnish with pineapple wedges or jalapeño slices as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It feels like a tropical cocktail minus the commitment of alcohol—and that spicy finish always raises an eyebrow in the best way.
  • Whenever I put a pitcher out at gatherings, it disappears shockingly fast and gets more compliments than anything else on the table.
02 -
  • Once, I left a few too many jalapeño seeds for 'extra kick'—it nearly set off a kitchen stampede for milk, so go slow with those seeds.
  • Switching half the water for sparkling water at the end makes it dance on the tongue, and it's now my favorite twist when I want a lighter taste.
03 -
  • Blending for a full minute gets rid of any fibrous pineapple bits for a smoother sip.
  • Reserve a spoonful of blended mixture to drizzle over ice for a layered look that impresses unsuspecting guests.
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