Refreshing Strawberry Basil Lemonade
A quick and easy homemade summer drink combining fresh strawberries, fragrant basil, and zesty lemon for a refreshing and crowd-pleasing lemonade.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 15–20 fresh basil leaves
- 4 large lemons, juiced (about 1 cup lemon juice)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (or honey/agave syrup to taste)
- 4 cups cold water
- Ice cubes
- Optional: sparkling water instead of still water for fizz
Instructions
- Rinse strawberries and basil leaves under cold water. Hull and quarter the strawberries. Dry basil gently with a towel.
- In a pitcher, place the basil leaves and strawberries. Using a wooden muddler or the back of a spoon, press gently about 10-15 times to release juices and basil oils without pulverizing them (about 2-3 minutes).
- In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup water. Heat over medium, stirring frequently until sugar dissolves completely (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool.
- Juice the lemons until you have about 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Strain out seeds.
- Pour the cooled syrup and lemon juice into the pitcher with muddled strawberries and basil. Add remaining 3 cups cold water and stir well.
- Add ice cubes to the pitcher or serve over ice in glasses. Garnish each glass with a fresh basil leaf and a strawberry slice.
- Optional: Substitute half or all of the cold water with sparkling water just before serving for a bubbly version.
Notes
Do not over-muddle the basil to avoid bitterness. Make sure the lemon syrup is fully cooled before mixing to keep the lemonade crisp and refreshing. Adjust sweetness gradually to taste. For a pulp-free drink, strain before serving. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. Can substitute sugar with honey or agave for a natural sweetness. Sparkling water can replace still water for a fizzy version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8-ounce (240 ml) gla
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Keywords: strawberry basil lemonade, summer drink, homemade lemonade, refreshing beverage, easy lemonade recipe, basil lemonade, strawberry drink