Fresh Strawberry Basil Sparkling Lemonade
A bright, bubbly, and herbaceous lemonade featuring fresh strawberries, basil, and sparkling water, perfect for refreshing summer days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 8–10 fresh basil leaves, gently bruised
- 4 medium fresh lemons, juiced (about 1/2 cup lemon juice)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (can substitute honey or agave)
- 4 cups (1 liter) sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup (240 ml) cold water
- Ice cubes, for serving
- Optional: fresh basil sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup cold water. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves completely (3-5 minutes).
- Prepare strawberry puree: Place 1 cup hulled and sliced strawberries into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, about 20-30 seconds. Strain through a fine mesh sieve if a seedless drink is preferred.
- Juice the lemons: Roll lemons on the counter to soften, then juice until you have about 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice. Strain to remove seeds.
- Combine ingredients: In a large pitcher, pour the cooled simple syrup, strawberry puree, and lemon juice. Add 8-10 bruised basil leaves.
- Chill and infuse: Stir together and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow basil flavor to infuse.
- Add sparkling water: Just before serving, add 4 cups chilled sparkling water to the pitcher. Stir gently to combine without losing fizz.
- Serve: Fill glasses with ice, pour lemonade, and garnish with a basil sprig or strawberry slice if desired.
Notes
Bruise basil leaves gently to release oils without bitterness. Strain strawberry puree for a smoother drink. Chill lemonade with basil for at least 30 minutes for best flavor. Add sparkling water just before serving to keep fizz. Adjust sweetness by adding more lemon juice or simple syrup as needed. Frozen strawberries can be used after thawing and draining excess liquid.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 oz (240 ml)
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 8
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 0.5
Keywords: strawberry lemonade, basil lemonade, sparkling lemonade, summer drink, refreshing beverage, homemade lemonade, natural sweetener