Fresh Strawberry Basil Lemonade Mocktail
A refreshing and easy summer mocktail combining fresh strawberries, basil, and lemon juice for a bright, sweet, and herbal drink perfect for hot days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (150g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 10–12 fresh basil leaves, washed
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 3–4 lemons)
- 3 cups (720 ml) cold water (still or sparkling, divided)
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar or honey (adjust to taste)
- Ice cubes as needed
- Optional garnishes: extra basil sprigs, whole strawberries, thin lemon slices
Instructions
- Prepare the strawberry-basil puree: In a blender or food processor, combine hulled and sliced strawberries with fresh basil leaves. Blend until smooth and fragrant (about 5 minutes).
- Strain the puree (optional): Pour the puree through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl or pitcher, pressing with a spoon to extract juice if a smoother texture is desired (about 3 minutes).
- Make the lemon syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugar or honey with 1/2 cup (120 ml) water. Heat gently over medium-low heat, stirring until sweetener dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool slightly (about 5 minutes).
- Juice the lemons: While syrup cools, juice lemons to get about 1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh lemon juice, removing seeds (about 3 minutes).
- Combine ingredients: In a large pitcher, mix strawberry-basil puree, cooled lemon syrup, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir well (about 3 minutes).
- Add water and ice: Pour in remaining 2 1/2 cups (600 ml) cold water (still or sparkling) and stir. Add plenty of ice cubes to chill (about 2 minutes).
- Adjust sweetness and serve: Taste and add more sweetener if needed. Pour into glasses, garnish with basil sprigs and strawberry slices, and enjoy immediately (about 2 minutes).
Notes
For a fizzier drink, substitute half or all water with sparkling water just before serving. Store strawberry-basil puree and lemon syrup separately in the fridge up to 2 days. Avoid over-blending basil to prevent bitterness. Use ripe strawberries for best flavor. Sweetener can be adjusted or substituted with agave or maple syrup; dissolve liquid sweeteners first.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 fl oz (240 ml)
- Calories: 80100
- Sugar: 1518
- Carbohydrates: 20
Keywords: strawberry basil lemonade, summer mocktail, non-alcoholic drink, fresh lemonade, basil drink, easy summer drink, refreshing mocktail