Cucumber Agua Fresca With Mint and Ginger

Steps

1. 1

   In a medium bowl, combine the packed mint leaves, granulated sugar, and kosher salt. Crush them together with a fork or the back of a wooden spoon just until the mint is bruised; do not pulverize it.

2. 2

   Pour the hot water into the bruised mint mixture and stir until the sugar and salt have dissolved. Let the mixture steep for 5 minutes while you prepare the cucumber mixture.

   Start 5-minute timer
3. 3

   Place the cucumber pieces and chopped ginger in a blender.

4. 4

   Zest the lime directly over the blender. Halve the lime and squeeze its juice into the blender.

5. 5

   Pour the room-temperature water into the blender. Purée on high until the mixture is completely smooth.

6. 6

   Pour the cucumber purée through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium pitcher. Press lightly on the solids with a spatula to extract the liquid, then discard the solids.

7. 7

   Pour the mint syrup through the same fine-mesh strainer into a separate container, pressing on the mint leaves to extract as much liquid as possible.

8. 8

   Add ¼ cup of the strained mint syrup to the cucumber agua fresca and stir. Taste, adding more syrup or lime juice as desired. Cover and refrigerate any remaining syrup for another use.

9. 9

   Fill serving glasses with ice. Pour in the agua fresca, garnish with fresh mint sprigs, and serve immediately.