Description
A refreshing strawberry basil lemonade perfect for summer!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh, ripe strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn or loosely chopped
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water (for simple syrup)
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 4–6 lemons)
- 3–4 cups cold filtered water
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of water.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is clear. Do not boil vigorously.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the saucepan from the heat and let the simple syrup cool completely to room temperature.
- While the simple syrup is cooling, hull 2 cups of fresh, ripe strawberries and quarter them.
- Gently tear or loosely chop about 1/2 cup of fresh basil leaves.
- In a blender, combine the prepared strawberries, the torn basil leaves, and about 1/2 cup of the cooled simple syrup.
- Blend on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and pureed.
- Place a fine-mesh sieve over a large pitcher or bowl.
- Pour the strawberry-basil puree through the sieve, using a spoon or rubber spatula to press firmly against the solids.
- Discard the solids left in the sieve.
- To the strained strawberry-basil liquid in your pitcher, add 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Pour in the remaining cooled simple syrup (about 1/2 cup, or more if you prefer a sweeter drink).
- Add 3-4 cups of cold filtered water, starting with 3 cups and adjusting to taste.
- Stir everything together thoroughly until well combined.
- Cover the pitcher and refrigerate your Strawberry Basil Lemonade for at least 1-2 hours.
- When ready to serve, stir again and pour over plenty of ice.
- Garnish each glass with a fresh strawberry slice, a lemon wheel, or a small sprig of fresh basil.
Notes
- This lemonade can be adjusted to your preferred sweetness by varying the amount of simple syrup added.
- For an extra burst of flavor, consider adding a splash of club soda when serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg