Description
This Basil Lemonade is truly a Summer treat. This recipe starts with a basil simple syrup that blends into homemade, fresh squeezed Lemonade. There isn't another drink more refreshing on a hot day!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 and 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup basil leaves, packed into measuring cup
- 1 and 1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice (between 6 to 10 lemons, depending on size, etc.)
- 6 and 1/2 cups of water (2 1/2 cups of water for simple syrup + 4 cups of water for lemonade)
Instructions
- Remove the zest from one lemon, about 1 teaspoon and set aside.
- Add the basil leaves and 1/2 cup of sugar into a pot and muddle the basil until it is fragrant in a counter clockwise motion.
- Add the remaining 1 cup of sugar, lemon zest, and 2 1/2 cups of water. Place the pot on the stovetop over medium high heat and cover. Bring the Basil Simple Syrup to a rapid boil, stirring to help dissolve the sugar. After a few minutes, turn off the heat and allow the simple syrup to cool for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- As the Basil simple syrup is cooling, juice the lemons, until you reach 1 and 1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice. Optional: Strain to remove excess pulp.
- Use a mesh strainer to strain the basil leaves and zest from the simple syrup.
- Combine the fresh lemon juice and basil simple syrup in a pitcher. Top with 4 cups of cold water. Stir!
- Serve in glasses with ice. Add a lemon wedge and basil leaf for garnish.
Notes
If you don't have a muddler tool, use the back of a wooden spoon instead.
Watch the mess when you strain the Basil Simple Syrup. It can splash and it's really sticky.
Make sure to measure the lemon juice, rather than just by how many lemons, since the sizing & juice amount can differ so much. You need 1 and 1/3 cups of fresh lemon juice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: drink
- Method: homemade
- Cuisine: American, Southern