Description
This Strawberry Basil Lemonade pairs juicy ripe strawberries with fragrant fresh basil and sharp lemon juice into a sophisticated, garden-fresh lemonade that surprises and delights with every sip. The sweet peppery basil note lifts the fruity strawberry in a way no other herb can. You need just ten minutes to make this elegant, restaurant-worthy lemonade at home.
Ingredients
2 cups fresh strawberries (hulled and halved)
10 fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/3 cup honey or simple syrup (adjust to taste)
3 cups cold water
1 cup ice cubes
Fresh basil leaves and lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
1. Add fresh strawberries into a high-speed blender and blend until completely smooth.
2. Strain the strawberry puree through a fine mesh sieve into a large pitcher.
3. Add fresh basil leaves into the pitcher and gently muddle them with a spoon.
4. Pour in fresh lemon juice and add lemon zest.
5. Add honey or simple syrup and cold water.
6. Stir everything together until well combined.
7. Taste and adjust sweetness or basil as needed.
8. Fill glasses with ice cubes, pour the lemonade over the ice, garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately.
Notes
Use fresh basil only — dried basil gives a completely flat and unpleasant flavor in cold drinks.
Muddle the basil gently to release its oils without making the drink dark and bitter.
Ripe, in-season strawberries give the boldest color and sweetest flavor in this lemonade.
Sparkling water instead of still water adds a beautiful fizzy twist to this drink.
Strain the strawberry puree thoroughly for the most elegant and smooth lemonade texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (12 oz)
- Calories: 88
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg