Fresh Homemade Strawberry Basil Lemonade
A quick and easy refreshing summer drink combining sweet strawberries, fresh basil, and tart lemon juice for a bright, flavorful lemonade.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 10 to 12 fresh basil leaves, washed
- 4 large fresh lemons (about 1 cup or 8 fl oz lemon juice)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100 g), adjust to taste
- 4 cups cold water (32 fl oz)
- Ice cubes as needed for serving
- Optional: fresh basil sprigs for garnish
- Optional: sliced strawberries or lemon wheels for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl or pitcher, combine the quartered strawberries and fresh basil leaves.
- Using a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon, gently press the strawberries and basil together to release juice and aroma without pulverizing.
- Sprinkle in the granulated sugar over the muddled mixture and stir well until the sugar dissolves.
- Roll each lemon on the counter to loosen juice, cut in half, and juice them using a juicer or by hand, removing any seeds. You should have about 1 cup (8 fl oz) of fresh lemon juice.
- Pour the fresh lemon juice and cold water into the strawberry-basil mixture and stir to combine evenly.
- Optional: Let the lemonade sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes to let flavors meld.
- Optional: Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a clean pitcher if you prefer a smoother lemonade.
- Chill the lemonade and serve over plenty of ice, garnished with fresh basil sprigs and sliced strawberries or lemon wheels.
Notes
Do not over-muddle basil to avoid bitterness. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for best flavor. Adjust sugar to taste. For a sparkling version, replace some cold water with sparkling water before serving. Letting the mixture rest for 10 minutes enhances flavor. Store leftovers refrigerated up to 3 days and stir before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 fl oz (1 cup)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Keywords: strawberry basil lemonade, summer drink, refreshing lemonade, homemade lemonade, basil lemonade, easy lemonade recipe