Spicy Jalapeño Strawberry Lemonade
A refreshing summer drink that combines the sweet and tart flavors of strawberry lemonade with a spicy kick from jalapeño-infused syrup. Perfect for cooling down on hot days with a surprising twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 medium fresh jalapeño pepper, sliced thinly (seeds removed for less heat)
- 4 large fresh lemons, juiced (about 1 cup or 240 ml fresh lemon juice)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (can substitute honey or agave nectar)
- 4 cups water (divided: 2 cups for simple syrup, 2 cups for diluting lemonade)
- Ice cubes for serving
- Optional garnishes: fresh strawberry slices, jalapeño rings, lemon wedges, fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Make the Jalapeño Simple Syrup (10 minutes): In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup water, and sliced jalapeño (seeds removed for milder heat). Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer gently for 5 minutes to infuse flavor. Remove from heat and let cool completely, then strain out jalapeño slices.
- Prepare the Strawberry Puree (5 minutes): Add 2 cups hulled and sliced strawberries to a blender and blend until smooth. For less pulp, strain puree through a fine mesh sieve.
- Juice the Lemons (5 minutes): Juice 4 large lemons to yield about 1 cup fresh lemon juice, removing any seeds.
- Mix the Lemonade (5 minutes): In a large pitcher, combine cooled jalapeño simple syrup, strawberry puree, fresh lemon juice, and 2 cups cold water. Stir well and adjust sweetness or dilution as needed.
- Add Ice and Serve: Fill glasses with ice cubes, pour lemonade over, and garnish with strawberry slices, jalapeño rings, or lemon wedges.
Notes
Remove jalapeño seeds to reduce heat. Let the jalapeño syrup cool completely before mixing to preserve fresh flavors. Adjust sweetness and spice to taste. The syrup can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge. For a fizzy version, substitute cold water with sparkling water just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 fl oz (240 ml)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 2
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Keywords: jalapeño, strawberry lemonade, spicy drink, summer drink, refreshing, non-alcoholic, simple syrup, fresh lemonade