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Strawberry Basil Lemonade

A tall glass of bright red Strawberry Basil Lemonade topped with crushed ice, fresh basil leaves, and a whole strawberry.
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Make a refreshing, balanced homemade lemonade featuring fresh strawberries and basil flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
  • 2 cups fresh lemon juice (about 6-8 lemons)
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 4 cups cold water (or sparkling water for fizz)

Instructions

  1. Make the basil simple syrup: Combine sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Add basil leaves, cover, and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain out the basil and discard. Let cool completely.
  2. Make the strawberry puree: Place sliced strawberries in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. You can strain this through a fine-mesh sieve for a smoother texture, or leave it as is for more body.
  3. Combine ingredients: In a large pitcher, mix the cooled basil simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, strawberry puree, and 4 cups of cold water.
  4. Taste and adjust: Taste the lemonade. If you want it sweeter, add a little more plain simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heated until dissolved). If it is too tart, add a small amount of water. If the basil flavor is weak, add a few drops of the steeped syrup.
  5. Chill and serve: Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve over ice with fresh strawberry and basil leaf garnishes.

Notes

  • For a stronger basil flavor without bitterness, steep the basil in the hot syrup for no more than 30 minutes.
  • To make this an alcoholic beverage, add 1.5 ounces of vodka or white rum per serving before mixing.
  • Use sparkling water instead of still water for a fizzy lemonade.
  • If your strawberries are not very sweet, you may need to increase the amount of simple syrup slightly.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://savoryskies.com/strawberry-basil-lemonade-recipe/