Watermelon strawberry clericó made with fresh watermelon, strawberries, white wine, lime juice and brandy is a perfect make ahead cocktail punch. Served in a watermelon punch bowl, it’s refreshing and so easy to whip up.
Jump to Recipe
Clericó, a white sangria is South America’s version of sangria that hails from Uruguay. Clericó is widely popular during the summer months served for family gatherings, BBQ and outdoor dinners.
Clericó is a refreshing cocktail punch made from a combination of white wine, fresh fruits, and citrus juice. Served in a punch bowl or pitcher Clericó is not only beautiful at the center of your table but is also a party-pleaser.
Clericó variations include fruits like melons, pineapples, strawberries, apples, pears, oranges, grapes, kiwis, mangoes, plums, papaya, passionfruit and peaches. The more succulent the fruit, the more alcohol it absorbs.
Clericó is often served in large pitchers, but today I want to share how you can use the beauty of Texas watermelons to serve our cocktail. I’ve removed the watermelon to create a mini punch bowl. My watermelon strawberry Clericó is a perfect make-ahead beverage for parties and gatherings, as it can be prepared several hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE WATERMELON STRAWBERRY CLERICÓ
mini, seedless watermelon: I love highlighting our Texas watermelons to serve cocktails or punches.
strawberries: diced strawberries with watermelon are an utterly delicious combination.
sugar: a touch of sweetness, but sugar also helps to break down (macerate) the fruit to extract flavor.
brandy: adds touch of warmth to our cocktail
fresh lime juice: fresh citrus juices is always a must-have for any cocktail
thinly sliced lime: for garnishing our cocktail.
1 bottle dry white wine: use a dry white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to make a lighter, fruitier version of the punch.
lemon lime soda: a little fizz elevates a sangria. Chill your soda before serving.
HOW TO MAKE WATERMELON STRAWBERRY CLERICÓ
Begin by preparing your watermelon: you can easily make this recipe in a punch bowl.
Slice watermelon in half, with a spoon remove watermelon flesh from half of watermelon.
We want to extract the most flavor from the fruit by macerating them in sugar and brandy. This helps to extract the sweetness and juice from fruit, adding a ton of flavor to our cocktail.
Return diced watermelon to watermelon half.
Add diced strawberries, sugar, brandy, and lime juice. Gently stir to mix.
Clericó is more flavorful when the fruit has time to infuse with the wine, so carefully tuck away your watermelon in the fridge. You can place the watermelon on a baking sheet or roasting pan to avoid any spills, and easier handling.
Add wine. Place watermelon in fridge to chill for at least one hour.
When ready to serve, gently stir and garnish with lime slices.
Serve over ice, adding fruit to each glass and top with lemon lime soda.
VARIATIONS OF CLERICÓ
For a mocktail version: replace wine with an alcohol-free wine there are so many amazing options now.
Replace brandy with a splash of apple juice.
Clericó variations include: melons, pineapples, apples, pears, oranges, grapes, kiwis, mangoes, plums and peaches. Mix it up with the fruits you love, the combinations are endless.
Add mint to the mix or lavender for notes of floral.
Replace lemon for lime.
Swap red wine for white such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.
Love Sangria? Then try these variations:
Blackberry Margarita Sangria Cazuela Cocktail
Sparkling Strawberry Rosé Sangria
- 1 mini seedless watermelon
- 1 cup strawberries, diced
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- Thinly sliced lime, optional
- 1 bottle dry white wine, like Sauvignon Blanc, chilled
- Lemon lime soda, chilled
- Ice
-
Slice watermelon in half, with a spoon remove watermelon flesh from half of watermelon.
-
Store the remaining half for another use.
-
Dice watermelon, return to watermelon.
-
Add diced strawberries, sugar, brandy, and lime juice. Gently stir to mix.
-
Add wine. Place watermelon in fridge to chill for at least one hour.
-
When ready to serve, gently stir and garnish with lime slices.
-
Serve over ice, adding fruit to each glass and top with lemon lime soda.
serves 6
Leave a Reply