Louisa Shafia's Watermelon, Mint & Cider Vinegar Tonic Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Genius Recipes

July2,2013

4.5

12 Ratings

  • Prep time 8 hours
  • Cook time 5 minutes
  • Makes 5 cups concentrate

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

Even if drinking vinegar sounds like a dare—and maybe that's why you ordered it—it's anything but. It's sweet and sour and icy-cold. It vibrates and clangs with fruit and vinegar, and soothes with sweetness and mint. It is the most refreshing drink you will have this summer. And because it's a grown-up drink without alcohol, you can take it on a picnic, at any park, without having to look side-eyed at cops that might pass by. From The New Persian Kitchen (Ten Speed Press, 2013). —Genius Recipes

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 3 cupswater, plus more to serve
  • 1/4 teaspoonsea salt
  • 1 cuphoney
  • 6 cupscoarsely chopped watermelon
  • 1 cuptightly packed fresh mint
  • 1 cupcider vinegar
  • Ice cubes
  • Sliced watermelon, sliced unwaxed cucumber, and spearmint, for garnish
Directions
  1. Bring the 3 cups water and the salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the honey, stir to dissolve, and remove from the heat.
  2. Combine the watermelon and mint in a large bowl. Stir in the honey-water and let cool to room temperature, then add the vinegar. Steep the mixture in the refrigerator for several hours or up to overnight.
  3. Strain the mixture and eat the watermelon chunks, if desired. Pour the concentrate into a clean glass jar, and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
  4. To serve, pour 1/4 cup of the concentrate into a glass over ice and dilute with 3/4 cup water. Garnish with the watermelon, cucumber, and mint.

Tags:

  • Punch
  • Persian
  • Honey
  • Melon
  • Mint
  • Fruit
  • Vinegar
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Make Ahead
  • Serves a Crowd
  • Summer
  • Fourth of July

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Midge

  • MiChal

  • JessieV

  • Beth Gerrish Renzetti

  • daisybrain

Recipe by: Genius Recipes

Popular on Food52

38 Reviews

Midge August 15, 2021

Super refreshing and delicious. After making two batches with different kinds of honey, I’d suggest going with a mild honey. I used a stronger one the second time around, and while still good it’s a bit overpowering.

KimConcha September 6, 2020

A question: how long after you’ve whipped this up will it be ready to drink..? Recipe says eat the watermelon and that it’s good in the frig for a week. The recipe prep time says 8 hours but nothing in the instructions.. I’m short on time today!

joyce.ciotti September 6, 2020

The 8 hours is the time in the refrigerator to steep. I make shrubs and let it set overnight, 8 hours.

KimConcha September 7, 2020

I’m so silly! I see it now in Step 2, thank you!

MiChal July 10, 2018

I just had my first sip. I love shrubs. This one is super easy, and has a light and delicious flavor. This recipe is a great use of a bland watermelon. I had to use agave syrup for this batch so my guess is this batch os a bit less sweet.

JessieV May 28, 2018

It's in the fridge right now - SOOOOO excited! thank you!

Chris May 25, 2018

Thanks so much, Kristen!

Chris May 25, 2018

I would hate to waste 6 cups of peaches plus the other ingredients if it wasn't recommended to use them. Does the author or anyone know for sure if I could use thawed peaches for this recipe?

Kristen M. May 25, 2018

Chris, it sounds delicious, but 2 things to keep in mind—1) peaches are more acidic than watermelon, so you'll want to tweak the sweetness and dilution to taste. 2) The peaches will be softer after they thaw, so you won't have the same fresh texture if you want to try and garnish the drink with it—but that shouldn't be a problem for the tonic itself.

Chris May 25, 2018

I have a ton of frozen peaches...would this work with them after they have thawed out?

Beth G. May 25, 2018

It's worth a try!

breakbread July 6, 2016

I have all the ingredients except for honey. Has anyone done a substitute with cane sugar or maple syrup?

Beth G. May 25, 2018

No but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

MiChal July 10, 2018

I used agave because I needed to get rid of it. Worked out fine, although it might not be as sweet.

M.B. August 15, 2015

This is fabulous and refreshing. It mixes well with a nip of vodka and a squeeze of lime. And the leftover watermelon mixed with red onion and pickled jalapenos makes a wonderful salsa!

[emailprotected] July 13, 2014

Live on St.Croix - Mint doesn't thrive and what one can purchase usually is expensive and tastes like weeds. So I used Thai Holy Basil and Rice Vinegar. It was delicious. Still looking forward to trying it with some fresh mint.

Christen May 20, 2014

I made this for a wedding shower, since the bride was having stomach issues and we wanted a fun adult drink, without the alcohol and with as much healing power as possible. I didn't tell the guests that of course...and EVERYONE RAVED ABOUT IT. Everyone wanted the recipe and I wish I made twice as much!

It's delicious at full strength, so I adjusted the ratio to 1/2 concentrate, 1/2 plain seltzer water with ice as well. And it was heavenly.

ashley August 13, 2013

Because I have an autoimmune liver disease I cannot drink alcohol anymore. I stumbled upon this recipe yesterday while searching for something not too sweet, unique and grown up tasting to drink with my friends and family while they booze it up. This is it. It's delicious, refreshing and I don't feel like I'm drinking a soda (because I'm not!). Thanks so much for sharing. I'll be making this with various different fruits throughout the year. I (and my liver!) appreciate it so much. :)

Beth G. August 12, 2013

This is insanely delicious & refreshing. i usually make mine closer to 50/50 concentrate/water. Heck, I drank some of the concentrate straight up. It's THAT good! Off now to make another batch...

daisybrain August 3, 2013

On my way to bed and I've had a few. I do believe this will be the cure for what ails me. Man that hits the spot.

aliciaa July 31, 2013

The best! I made this for a party in Seattle on a hot summer day and it was the hit of the party. So much nicer than just serving fruit juice or water for a non-alcoholic choice.

Lyn C. July 26, 2013

Making my 3rd batch now. Love this as I hate plain water. Very satisfying.

clintonhillbilly July 11, 2013

Just made my first batch-- it's terrifically refreshing, thank you! Any variations with other fruit you suggest?

Kristen M. July 11, 2013

Glad you liked it! Louisa lists a number of variations in the post (linked below). Here's what she said: "Try adding a few slices of ginger, fresh rose petals, or a stalk of crushed lemongrass. Instead of watermelon, try cherries (including sour!), or sliced apricots, peaches, plums, or grapes." http://food52.com/blog/7203-louisa-shafia-s-watermelon-mint-and-cider-vinegar-tonic

debbie C. July 6, 2013

perhaps this? http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/suzies-peach-pickles-recipe/index.html

for pickled peaches

wcl July 7, 2013

YES !!!
this is by far the closest recipe i have ever seen to what i remember.
(i've looked on the internet many times but never came across this one)
now i just have to wait on the peaches to come in up here in canada...

KimF April 18, 2022

The link you gave is not working. Says page not found. Can you try to resend? Thanks.

Auntie L. July 6, 2013

I increased the watermelon by about 50%, and cut it into small cubes. Then after the time marinating, separated the watermelon/mint mixture into a different bowl, added a little sugar to taste (I'm in the south....) and served as a salad. Sugar wasn't really necessary, depends on how tart you like the fruit as a salad.

rsfgs July 5, 2013

Yum! This was fun to make, and a tasty introduction to shrub style drinks.

Louisa Shafia's Watermelon, Mint & Cider Vinegar Tonic Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Louisa Shafia's Watermelon, Mint & Cider Vinegar Tonic Recipe on Food52? ›

Even diluted, the vinegar drink may not taste fabulous, so you can add a squeeze of honey and/or a dash of cinnamon or ginger. Sip the drink slowly. If you're drinking ACV daily, you may want to drink through a straw to prevent wearing the enamel of your teeth.

What to mix with apple cider vinegar to make it taste better? ›

Even diluted, the vinegar drink may not taste fabulous, so you can add a squeeze of honey and/or a dash of cinnamon or ginger. Sip the drink slowly. If you're drinking ACV daily, you may want to drink through a straw to prevent wearing the enamel of your teeth.

How do you use watermelon vinegar? ›

Our Watermelon Vinegar is the perfect addition to summer spritzers, co*cktails, and shrubs. Combine with Basil Olive Oil and drizzle over mixed greens topped with sliced tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, crumbled feta cheese, and juicy watermelon: summer in a bowl!

Is it better to drink apple cider vinegar at night or in the morning? ›

Is it good to drink apple cider vinegar before going to bed? Apple cider vinegar offers many possible health benefits. However, besides potentially lowering fasting blood sugar for some people, drinking it right before bed doesn't appear to have more benefits than consuming it at any other time of day.

What can I mix with apple cider vinegar to lose belly fat? ›

Apple Cider Vinegar And Tea: Add a teaspoon to a tablespoon of ACV to your tea. The best options are green tea, ginger tea, turmeric tea, and chai tea. These teas combat inflammation and can help you to burn fat.

What does watermelon cleanse? ›

“The idea that you could eliminate toxins by just eating watermelon exclusively is totally untrue,” Cassetty said. “There's no validity to any type of cleanse.”

What makes watermelon taste better? ›

Salt is commonly used to dampen bitter flavors—Brussels sprouts or leafy greens are a good example—so when the bitterness of the watermelon is masked by the salt, the sugary sweetness shines. Salt also activates your salivary glands, so a bit of salt is enough to make watermelon seem juicier.

Why do you put lemon in watermelon juice? ›

The taste of watermelon when mixed with other juices can vary depending on the type and amount of juice used. When mixed with citrus juices like lemon or lime, the watermelon can take on a tangy and slightly tart flavor, which can add a refreshing twist to the sweetness of the watermelon.

What can I dilute apple cider vinegar with? ›

Dilute with water

If you've bought one of our unpasteurised vinegars, we recommend diluting it with water and even adding honey to it to sweeten it up. Most people like to mix 1-2tbsp of ACV with a small glass of water and drink it first thing in the morning.

What can you add to vinegar to make it taste better? ›

Infused: To bring extra flavor to salads, sauces, and meats, you can create your own herb-infused vinegar. Commonly used picks include basil, dill, rosemary, thyme, and garlic.

How do you mask the taste of vinegar? ›

a little baking soda (a pinch at a time) will help tone down the pH harshness (bitterness) a little water, broth or other suitable liquid to dilute the vinegar. a little oil (if it works in the recipe) to dilute the vinegar, and/or. a little sugar (if it works in the recipe)

Is it OK to mix apple cider vinegar with juice? ›

However, be aware that apple cider vinegar has a strong, tangy taste that may alter the flavor of the juice. It can add a tartness and acidity to the drink. Start with a small amount of apple cider vinegar and gradually adjust to your taste preferences. Mixing well can help distribute the flavor more evenly.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 6496

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.