Basil Lemonade

Basil lemonade is a sweet tart, herbaceous, and refreshing summer drink! It’s easy to make with a quick infused syrup.

Basil Lemonade

Got basil? Fresh basil leaves are pure gold: an abundance can make everything from fresh basil pesto to caprese salad and everything in between. Here’s a fun way to use this fresh herb: basil lemonade! It has a sweet tart, refreshing flavor with a pungent finish of basil to each sip. It’s simple to whip up at home with a quick infused simple syrup that brings that signature herbaceous pop. Here’s how to make it!

Ingredients for basil lemonade

Basil lemonade is fun to whip up at home and the perfect drink for impressing everyone (our son is one huge fan of homemade lemonade!). You’ll make a basil simple syrup that takes only a few minutes of hands on time, though you’ll need 30 minutes to the flavor to steep into the syrup. Keep in mind, this recipe is best in summer you’ve got fresh basil to spare. It calls for 1 cup mint leaves, which can get expensive if you’re buying store-bought herbs. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

  • Fresh basil
  • Lemons
  • Suga
Basil Lemonade

How to make basil lemonade (basic steps)

Homemade lemonade is simple: it just requires lots of lemons! You’ll need 7 to 8 large lemons to make a big pitcher. You can also consider making a half pitcher for a smaller quantity! Here are the basic steps for how to make basil lemonade (or jump to the recipe below for quantities):

  • Make the basil syrup. Dissolve equal parts water and sugar, then add basil and allow the leaves to steep at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  • Juice the lemons. Using a press juicer is the quickest way to juice lemons: it gets out the most juice without tiring out your fingers from squeezing. The next best choice? A handheld citrus juicer.
  • Mix the pitcher. Mix the basil syrup in a pitcher with the lemon juice and more cold water. Add ice and serve!
Basil Lemonade

Spiked variation: add vodka or gin!

For another variation on basil lemonade, try turning this recipe into a summer cocktail! It’s the perfect basis for a sweet tart summer drink. Simply combine 1 cup of this lemonade with 2 ounces (¼ cup) vodka. Or, try it with gin: add 1.5 ounces (3 Tbsp) per glass. Or, add limoncello to amp the lemony flavor: add 1 ounce (2 Tbsp) per glass.

Basil lemonade by the glass

Don’t want to make an entire pitcher of basil lemonade? This recipe makes 8 to 9 cups of lemonade, so it’s intended for parties or entertaining. You can make a big pitcher, but if you’re really just craving a glass, you can do that too! Here’s what to do:

  • Squeeze 3 tablespoons lemon juice into a glass. That’s 1 large lemon or 2 small.
  • Add 3 tablespoons of basil syrup and stir until it dissolves.
  • Add 1 cup cold water and a handful of ice. Water it down more if necessary. Enjoy!
Basil Lemonade

More homemade lemonade recipes

This basil lemonade recipe is one in a lineup of fruity and herby lemonade flavors! Here are a few of our favorite ways to make lemonade:

This basil lemonade recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Print
Basil Lemonade

Basil Lemonade

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Rest Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 8
Print Recipe

Description

Basil lemonade is a sweet tart, herbaceous, and refreshing summer drink! It’s easy to make with a quick infused syrup.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup basil leaves, tightly packed
  • 1 ½ cups fresh squeezed lemon juice (7 to 8 large lemons)*
  • 7 cups water, divided
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Add the sugar and 1 cup water to a small saucepan and heat until a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil leaves. Allow to steep until syrup is room temperature, about 30 minutes.*
  2. Strain out the basil leaves, then add the basil syrup to a large pitcher with 6 cups cold water and the lemon juice.  Add ice and serve.

Notes

*Or, make a variation by the glass. Make the basil syrup and refrigerate leftovers. To make the lemonade by the glass, use 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 3 tablespoons basil syrup, and 1 cup cold water. Add ice and serve!

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Lemonade
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Basil lemonade

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.



from A Couple Cooks
https://ift.tt/LDPzAJZ
Sonja Overhiser
August 31, 2023 at 09:30AM

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Creamy Shrimp Risotto

Image
This shrimp risotto recipe makes a crowd-pleasing dinner, pairing the bold flavors of Parmesan and lemon with creamy rice and juicy shrimp. Looking for a fun dinner idea? Try this Shrimp Risotto recipe! This Italian-style dish is full of bold flavor: juicy, succulent shrimp sit over a bed of creamy, Parmesan and lemon-scented rice. It’s great for impressing guests as a main dish, but it’s simple enough to work as a weeknight meal, too. Our entire family gobbled it up! Ingredients for this shrimp risotto recipe Risotto is an Italian rice dish where short grain Arborio rice is cooked in broth until it becomes creamy. It’s generally served as a first course in Italy, where meals are structured as antipasti, first plate, and second plate. But when we’re looking to conjure up the flavors of Italy at home, we eat it as a dinner with a green salad. Most risotto methods use butter, onion, and garlic, white wine to deglaze the pan, and Parmesan cheese to finish. Here’s what you’ll nee...
Read more

Easy Burrata Recipe

Image
This burrata recipe is the best way to serve this rich and creamy cheese! Pair it with summer fruit or tomatoes, olive oil and sea salt. Ready for one of the best taste treats on the planet? Burrata cheese . Burrata is a revelation: gooey, fresh mozzarella that’s hiding a secret: an even gooier, creamier interior. Once you taste this, you’ll be forever a burrata aficionado. Even better: you barely need to make a recipe to eat it. Here’s the best way to serve burrata: with fresh summer fruits or tomatoes, herbs, olive oil, and sea salt. The Italians are all about the perfection of simplicity: so it’s only fitting that they’re the ones behind this rockstar cheese. What is burrata? Burrata is an Italian fresh mozzarella cheese with a surprise inside: the center is filled with cream! The creamy interior also contains c heese shreds, called straciatella . When you cut into the ball, the creamy cheese comes spilling out: perfect for topping crackers or crostini . The word burrata comes ...
Read more

Quick Burrito Bowl

Image
This burrito bowl recipe is a lightning fast easy dinner idea! Add veggies and drizzle with creamy chipotle ranch dressing. Here’s a quick dinner idea that’s always satisfying and works for nearly every diet. That’s right, the good old Burrito Bowl ! We can thank Chipotle for its widespread popularity, but it really is a killer idea. Throw rice, veggies, and burrito fillings in a bowl and call it meal! Here’s the thing: a good burrito bowl can actually take a while to make at home with all the components. Want a burrito bowl that’s lightening fast to make? We’ve got you. In fact, you can make this one 15 minutes (we timed ourselves). How to make a burrito bowl… fast! The longest lead time item in a burrito bowl is the rice. If you want to make a speedy bowl, you’ve got to short cut the rice cook time. There are a few options: Fastest: Use packaged pre-cooked rice! There are a few brands on the market (we used Seeds of Change) Fast: Cook the rice the night before, then rehea...
Read more