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Refreshing Strawberry Basil Lemonade

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A bright, refreshing homemade lemonade featuring fresh strawberries and basil for a sweet-tart, herbaceous summer drink.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries (about 300g), hulled and roughly chopped
  • 10–12 fresh basil leaves
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4–6 lemons)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (100g) or ⅓ cup honey (80ml), adjust to taste
  • 4 cups cold water (960ml), can substitute half with sparkling water
  • Ice cubes, for serving
  • Lemon slices and basil sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Wash and hull 2 cups of fresh strawberries. Roughly chop them.
  2. Place chopped strawberries in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Optionally strain through a fine mesh sieve for pulp-free lemonade.
  3. Roll 4-6 lemons on the counter, cut in half, and juice to yield 1 cup (240ml) fresh lemon juice. Remove any seeds.
  4. In a large pitcher, combine strawberry puree, lemon juice, and ½ cup sugar or ⅓ cup honey. Stir until dissolved. Adjust sweetness if needed.
  5. Gently bruise 10-12 basil leaves by clapping between palms or lightly muddling. Add to the pitcher and steep for 10 minutes.
  6. Add 4 cups cold water and stir well. For a sparkling version, replace half the water with chilled soda water.
  7. Add ice cubes to the pitcher or serve over ice-filled glasses. Garnish with lemon slices and basil sprigs. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 24 hours.

Notes

Bruise basil gently to avoid bitterness. Use ripe strawberries for natural sweetness. Fresh lemon juice is essential for bright flavor. Sweetener can be adjusted or substituted with honey, agave, or stevia. Chill lemonade for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor. Remove basil leaves if flavor becomes too strong after steeping.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry lemonade, basil lemonade, summer drink, homemade lemonade, refreshing drink, easy lemonade recipe

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/refreshing-strawberry-basil-lemonade-recipe-easy-homemade-drink-to-beat-summer-heat/