Frozen Watermelon Lime Slush Without Added Ice
Frozen watermelon supplies both the flavor and the icy texture in this July slush. Because there’s no ice in the blender, it doesn’t turn into lightly flavored water as it softens. The key is freezing the melon in small pieces and keeping part of the fruit chilled, not frozen, to get the blades moving.
For two tall glasses
- 3 cups seedless watermelon flesh, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 small pinch fine salt, optional
- 1 to 2 teaspoons simple syrup, only if needed
Use a rimmed tray lined with parchment, a freezer container, and a blender rated for frozen fruit. Remove any hard dark seeds before freezing. Leave the rind and the pale, firm flesh nearest it out of the drink.
Freeze and blend
- Spread 2 1/2 cups of cubes in a single layer on the lined tray. Freeze until firm, about 3 to 4 hours depending on the freezer. Cover and refrigerate the remaining 1/2 cup of cubes. For longer freezer storage, transfer the firm cubes to a freezer container.
- Put the chilled melon, lime juice, and optional salt in the blender first. Add half the frozen cubes and pulse to break them up. Add the rest and blend in short bursts until the texture is spoonable but no large chunks remain.
- Taste and add simple syrup only if the melon needs it. Pulse briefly, pour into cold glasses, and serve with wide straws or spoons.
Rescue a stalled blender or thin batch
If the blades spin without moving the fruit, stop the blender before scraping down the sides. Add cold water or watermelon juice a tablespoon at a time, pulsing between additions. If the cubes have frozen together, break them apart before trying again rather than forcing the blender through one large block.
If the slush is already thin, blend in another handful of frozen melon. With none left, put the mixture in a shallow freezer-safe container for 15 to 20 minutes and stir the icy edges back into the center. For serving outdoors, chill the glasses ahead of time and blend just before pouring; a finished pitcher will melt while it waits.
