Strawberry Lemonade Recipe
This easy strawberry lemonade recipe combines freshly squeezed lemon juice with ripe strawberries to create a refreshing and sweet summer drink. With simple steps and a few ingredients, you can enjoy this non-alcoholic beverage in just 25 minutes. Customize it to your taste, serve over ice, and optionally garnish with mint for added brightness.
Equipment
- Small saucepan combine 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup ofwater. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, then let it cool.
- blender combine 1 pound ofhulled and halved strawberries with 1 cup of water. Blend until pureed.
- Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the strawberry puree
- large pitcher combine the cooled simple syrup, strawberry puree, 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 4 cups of water. Adjust the amount of water or lemon juice to taste.
- Serve the strawberry lemonade over ice, and optionally garnish with mint leaves.
Ingredients
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 cup water, divided
- 1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved
- Ice
- Mint leaves (optional)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the granulated sugar and 1 cup of water. Bring it to a simmer and cook until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let the simple syrup cool.
- In a blender, combine the strawberries and 1 cup of water. Blend until the mixture is pureed.
- Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the strawberry puree, discarding any solids that remain.
- In a large pitcher, combine the cooled simple syrup, strawberry puree, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and the remaining 4 cups of water. Adjust the quantities of water or lemon juice according to your taste preferences.
- Serve the strawberry lemonade over ice and garnish with mint leaves if desired.
- Enjoy your homemadestrawberry lemonade!
Notes
Here are some special notes for the strawberry lemonade recipe:
- Simple Syrup: The recipe calls for making a simple syrup by combining equal parts sugar and water. Be sure to simmer it until the sugar dissolves and let it cool before using it in the lemonade.
- Strawberry Puree: After blending the strawberries with water, it is recommended to strain the puree through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any solids or seeds. This step is especially important if you're not using a high-powered blender.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. Avoid using store-bought lemon juice as it may have a bitter taste and affect the overall flavor of the lemonade.
- Adjusting the Flavor: Once you combine the simple syrup, strawberry puree, lemon juice, and water, you can adjust the taste according to your preferences. Add more water if you prefer a more diluted drink or increase the amount of lemon juice to enhance the lemonade flavor.
- Mint Leaves (Optional): You have the option to top your strawberry lemonade with a sprig of mint for added freshness and visual appeal. To release the mint's flavor, gently bruise the leaves with your fingers before adding them to the drink.