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Subak hwachae (Korean watermelon punch)
Watermelon balls and fruit floating in chilled sweet watermelon juice
Subak hwachae is the cooling bowl Koreans set out on the hottest days of summer, especially around Boknal, the dog days of July and August, when families gather and eat from a hollowed-out watermelon shell. Balls of watermelon and other fruit float in chilled watermelon juice lightly sweetened and sharpened with lemon, with sparkling water for fizz and plenty of ice. It is refreshing, juicy and only gently sweet. Serve it straight away in small bowls with a spoon, after a barbecue or a spicy meal. This version is egg-free and dairy-free, and nothing needs binding or setting, as it is simply fruit in its own juice. Some modern versions add milk or a fizzy lemon soda; this one keeps it light with sugar syrup and sparkling water. Chef's tip: chill the fruit and juice for at least an hour before adding the fizz; the common mistake is relying on ice alone, which melts and waters the punch down.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 1 small watermelonabout 2.5 kg
- 1 ⅜ oz sugar
- ¼ cup hot water
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 ½ oz blueberries
- 2 kiwi fruitpeeled and diced
- 1 ¼ cups chilled sparkling water
- 7 oz ice cubes
- 6 mint leaves (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Halve 1 small watermelon. Scoop the flesh into balls with a melon baller and put them in a large bowl or the hollowed-out shell.
Step 2: Scrape out the remaining flesh, blend it until smooth and strain through a sieve to give about 500 ml juice.
Step 3: Stir 1 ⅜ oz sugar into ¼ cup hot water until dissolved, then mix into the juice with 2 tbsp lemon juice.
Step 4: Add 3 ½ oz blueberries and 2 kiwi fruit to the watermelon balls, pour over the juice and chill if you have time.
Step 5: Just before serving, pour in 1 ¼ cups chilled sparkling water, add 7 oz ice cubes and float 6 mint leaves on top. Ladle into small bowls with plenty of juice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 130 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does subak hwachae (Korean watermelon punch) take?
- About 15 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of lemon juice?
- Lime juice, same amount.
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Perfect for:Summer coolers