Strawberry Basil Lemonade Recipe, How to make Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Strawberry Basil Lemonade Recipe with step by step photos and easy to follow instructions:

Strawberry Basil Lemonade – cool and refreshing summer drink that will surely keep you hydrated in the hot summer days. Put that frozen lemonade away and try something more refreshing and flavorful this summer. Strawberry Basil Lemonade is so easy to make from scratch and it only requires a handful of ingredients. The home made lemonade is delicious in itself but adding fresh strawberries gives it a nice sweet flavor and basil lends a nice zest to excite your taste palate. A glass of chilled, ruby red Strawberry Basil Lemonade will break you free from stress and refresh your senses of smell, taste and sight; and best of all, you will know what goes in this lemonade, is all natural.

Strawberry season is very fruitful this summer and basil is growing abundantly  in my garden. I picked up some (lots of) strawberries from the nearby strawberry farm  to make strawberry jam and freeze some for smoothies. I just love the refreshing flavor and sweet scent of fresh strawberries which the store bought strawberries can never beat. Have you ever tried fresh farm strawberries? If not, try it and you will never go back to the strawberries packed in a plastic box that you will not smell even if you stick your nose in it.

After making some Pesto and dried some basil for winter use, hmmm… what else can I do with this delicate herb? Well… what can be better than make a pitcher of Strawberry Basil Lemonade in hot balmy summer days?

How to make Strawberry Basil Lemonade:

1. Choose ripe strawberries that are firm and free of any blemish. Wash and hull strawberries. Pureé the strawberries in a blender or a food processor so simply mash it with a fork or potato masher. I prefer to pureé it because I like the lemonade to be smooth and free of any fruit bits. Prepare the strawberries as per your preference.
2. I like to use limes for making lemonade. Choose limes that are a little soft to touch when squeezed in the palm of your hand. They are juicier compared to the firm limes. If you prefer to use lemons, go for it. As oppose to limes, choose lemons that are firm and skin is shiny, they are fresher.
   
3. In a small saucepan, make a simple syrup by adding water and sugar to it. Cook it until sugar is dissolved. Add pureed or mashed strawberries; bring it to a boil. Let it cook for a minute. Cooking strawberries will intensify the flavor and gives a nice vibrant deep orange color to the lemonade. Remove from the heat and let it cool.
   
4. Once simple syrup has cooled down, strain it through a mesh sieve. It is not important to strain the simple syrup. If you don’t mind the strawberry seeds and fruits chunks, you can leave the syrup as is.
5. In a glass pitcher, add water and salt. Squeeze the juice of limes (lemons) and add it to the pitcher as well. Add the simple syrup and mix well.
   
6. Now to add basil leaves, there are two ways to do this. Crush a few basil leaves.
   Note: Be careful with how much basil you add. It has a quite strong scent. Adding too much may turn the lemonade to be unpleasant to drink.
   1. Add the crushed basil leaves directly to the lemonade and stir.
   2. Add the crushed basil leaves to a separate glass or container. Pour some of the lemonade from the pitcher into this small glass. Mix well and then strain in the rest of the lemonade through a mesh sieve. Discard the leaves. This will give you a pitcher of nice and clean lemonade with basil flavor.
   
7. Put some ice in the glasses and pour lemonade over ice. Now sit back, put your feet up and enjoy a glass of cool, delicious and refreshing Strawberry Basil Lemonade.
   
   
   Strawberry Basil Lemonade

    

   

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   Prep time

   10

   Cook time

   5

   Total time

   15

    

   A cool, refreshing and beautiful fragrant ruby red lemonade with a touch of fresh basil is a must-have drink on a hot summer day.

   Author: Raj Brar

   Recipe type: Beverage

   Cuisine: Italian

   Serves: 4 - 5 servings

   Ingredients

   • 5 cups water
   • 2 cups strawberries
   • ½ cup sugar or to taste
   • ¼ tsp salt or to taste
   • 2 - 3 limes, juiced
   • A few fresh basil leaves
   • Ice as needed

   Instructions

   1. Wash and hull the strawberries. Make a pureé of strawberries in a blender or food processor or simply mash it with a potato masher or a fork.
   2. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1 cup of water and sugar to make simple syrup. Cook until sugar is dissolved.
   3. Add strawberry pureé and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 1 minute. Cooking the strawberries will give a nice vibrant color and intense flavor the lemonade. Remove from heat and let it cool.
   4. In a glass pitcher, add rest of the water. Add salt and lime juice. Mix well.
   5. Strain the cooled strawberry syrup through a mesh sieve and add it to the lemonade in the pitcher.
   6. Crush a few basil leaves in a small glass. Pour some of the lemonade into the glass and stir. Strain the basil leaves mixture through a mesh sieve into the lemonade pitcher and stir.
   7. Add ice to individual glasses and pour lemonade over the ice. Garnish with basil leaves.
   8. Serve chilled.

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