by Chef Adam Lambay
Take a departure from the usual diet soda and unsweetened tea and satisfy your taste buds with Agua Fresca. And if you’re looking for a more adult beverage, scroll down for Chef Adam’s Spiked Agua Fresca recipe.
Ingredients:
8 Large Fresh Basil Leaves
Leaves from 2 Sprigs of Fresh Mint
1 Gallon Water
2 Cups Ice Cubes
1 Lemon
2 Limes
2 Naval Oranges
1 Cup Sucralose or other Sugar Free Sweetener
1/2 tsp Kosher Salt or Sea Salt
Muddle the basil leaves and mint leaves in a large glass to release the essential oils. Place muddled leaves into a large drink dispenser. It should be at least 5 quarts in size. Add water and ice cubes to dispenser and stir.
Roll citrus back and forth across your kitchen counter with the palm of your hand, softening the fruit. Cut citrus in half and squeeze all the juice into the water. Drop in the squeezed halves. Stir.
Add the sweetener and salt. Stir to dissolve completely. Serve over ice and garnish with a slice of citrus and a sprig of mint.
Serves 12 – Approximately 5g net carbs per serving
Note: A Life Well Eaten follows diabetic educator guidelines for determining net carbs.
Suggested formula is total carbs minus half the fiber, i.e. 16g carbs and 4g fiber would be 14g net carbs. The food industry determines net carbs as total carbs minus fiber which would come in at 12g net carbs.
Spiked Agua Fresca
Ingredients:
Ice
6 oz. Agua Fresca (recipe above)
1-2 oz. Tequila, depending on how strong you like it
Place ice in a glass. Pour in 6 oz. Agua Fresca. Top with tequila. Stir. Garnish with slice of citrus and a sprig of mint.
Serves 1 – Approximately 5g net carbs
Note: A Life Well Eaten follows diabetic educator guidelines for determining net carbs.
Suggested formula is total carbs minus half the fiber, i.e. 16g carbs and 4g fiber would be 14g net carbs. The food industry determines net carbs as total carbs minus fiber which would come in at 12g net carbs.