Ina Garten Is Serving This Summery Cocktail For The 4th Of July

The 4^th of July is a time when people all over America get together with friends and family to relax while chowing down on delicious spreads in backyards, parks, and beaches. Though the Independence Day feast will have a heftier price tag this year, many Americans still intend to enjoy burgers, hot dogs, ribs, corn, potato salad, beers and other classics (and in the case of New Englanders, the holiday calls for a traditional meal like no other).

These tried-and-true favorites are perfect for any celebrations you have planned, but if you want to try a fun summertime twist that will delight your party guests, Ina Garten has a cocktail she plans on making for the occasion. And the good news is that it's a simple, refreshing recipe that won't force you to look high and low for the ingredients. That's because the main star of this beverage is a common summer treat — watermelon.

The Barefoot Contessa herself says that watermelon mojitos are perfect for 4^th of July weekend because they can cool you down in the hot summer weather. And the recipe she shared for her version of the cocktail is a breeze to make. As with any mojito recipe, you need mint leaves. Ina Garten recommends using a mortar and pestle to mash up the leaves. Then, get three or four slices of fresh watermelon, remove the rinds and seeds, and blend the fruit in a food processor until it's puréed. After that, you can simply put the mashed mint in a pitcher with the blended watermelon, rum, simple syrup, and lime juice, and stir these ingredients together.

Before you serve the beverage, be sure to add ice to the glasses. As a finishing touch, you can garnish the drinks with mint sprigs and watermelon spears. One pitcher of the watermelon mojito mixture is good for six glasses' worth, according to Ina Garten. A recipe like this needs a quality watermelon, but there are easy ways to make sure you pick a juicy one like lifting it up and paying attention to its tail.