Watermelon Slushie with Boba is a refreshing, naturally sweet, blended watermelon beverage with tapioca pearls cooked in brown sugar. With just three ingredients, it's a super easy drink to make!
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Ingredients you'll need
- Fresh watermelon: Choose a fresh watermelon that's sweet and juicy. Sugar is optional, but you can add it if you prefer a sweeter taste or if the watermelon is not sweet enough for your liking.
- Frozen watermelon: Incorporating frozen watermelon instead of regular ice cubes enhances the refreshing watermelon flavor of your slushie and creates a more concentrated profile.
- Boba or tapioca pearls: Quick-cooking boba will require only 5 minutes to cook, saving you time with the same results. Did you know that tapioca pearls are derived from cassava roots? As a substitute, you can use sago, gulaman (agar-agar), or even grass jelly.
- Brown sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar to make the syrup.
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Cook the tapioca pearls following the instructions on the package.
Step 2: After cooking, rinse the tapioca pearls under cold water and drain them. Return them to the saucepan, add the brown sugar, and pour in enough water to submerge them.
Step 3: Simmer over medium heat for another 5 minutes until the syrup has thickened. Set aside.
Step 4: Add the fresh watermelon to the blender, followed by the frozen watermelon. If desired, you can also add sugar for extra sweetness.
Step 5: Blend until smooth and serve with a generous portion of tapioca pearls.
Enjoy your refreshing Watermelon Slushie with Boba!
Recipe FAQs
Watermelon is juicy and refreshing, with a sweet taste from its natural sugars. Some varieties can be exceptionally sweet when fully ripe, particularly during the summer. With its high water content, watermelon is hydrating and perfect for quenching your thirst. Its flesh is crisp and juicy, sometimes with a subtle hint of floral notes.
You can freeze watermelon, but keep in mind that it may become slightly mushy or watery once thawed, altering the texture and taste. However, frozen watermelon works well in slushies, smoothies, sorbets, and frozen desserts. While freezing is an option for excess watermelon, it's worth noting that watermelon is best enjoyed fresh.
To select a good watermelon, follow these steps: (1) Look for a symmetrical shape without lumps or irregularities. (2) Check the field spot, where it rested on the ground, for a creamy yellow color. (3) Tap and listen for a deep, hollow sound. (4) Choose one with dull and slightly rough skin, as shiny or smooth skin may indicate underripeness. (5) It should also feel heavy for its size.
Perpect pairings for Watermelon Slushie
- Turon: Fried banana spring rolls with jackfruit and caramelized sugar on the outside. Ube Turon is a delicious variation with ube (purple yam).
- Bibingka: Soft and spongy rice cakes, traditionally cooked in clay pots lined with banana leaves, and often enjoyed during the Christmas season.
- Adobong Mani: These are salty, garlicky fried peanuts.
- Banana Cue: Fried saba bananas coated with caramelized sugar, skewered on bamboo sticks for easy eating.
- Cheese Sticks: Strips of cheese wrapped in lumpia wrappers and deep-fried until golden and melty.
- Buko Pie: A dessert pie with a flaky pastry shell, packed with young coconut flesh and a rich, creamy filling.
Other drinks and cold treats you may like
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📖 Recipe
Watermelon Slushie with Boba
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Blender
Ingredients
- 6 cups fresh watermelon cubes (see note)
- 3 cups frozen watermelon cubes (see note)
- ½ cup raw boba or tapioca pearls (see note)
- ½ cup brown sugar (see note)
Instructions
- Cook the tapioca pearls following the instructions on the package.
- After cooking, rinse the tapioca pearls under cold water and drain them. Return them to the saucepan, add the brown sugar, and pour in enough water to submerge them.
- Simmer over medium heat for another 5 minutes until the syrup has thickened. Set aside.
- Add the fresh watermelon to the blender, followed by the frozen watermelon. If desired, you can also add sugar for extra sweetness.
- Blend until smooth and serve with a generous portion of tapioca pearls.
Notes
- Fresh watermelon: Choose a fresh watermelon that's sweet and juicy. Sugar is optional, but you can add it if you prefer a sweeter taste or if the watermelon is not sweet enough for your liking.
- Frozen watermelon: Incorporating frozen watermelon instead of regular ice cubes enhances the refreshing watermelon flavor of your slushie and creates a more concentrated profile.
- Boba or Tapioca Pearls: Choose quick-cooking boba that require about 5 minutes to cook. Sago, gulaman (agar-agar), or grass jelly can also be used as an alternative ingredient.
- Brown sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar to make the syrup.
Linda says
With good watermelon, you won't need the sugar.
Nora Rey says
Absolutely! You've got it right! 🍉👍 Good watermelon is naturally sweet and juicy, making it a delicious treat on its own without any added sugar. Nature's candy at its finest!