Strawberry Basil Lemonade: The Ultimate Summer Refresher

Method

1. Prepare the basil simple syrup: Combine the sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium until the sugar is fully dissolved. Remove from the heat, stir in half of the fresh basil leaves, and let it steep for about 10 minutes. Strain out the basil and set the syrup aside to cool.

2. Process the fruit: Place the strawberries in a blender with a splash of the lemon juice. Pulse until you have a smooth puree. For a more rustic look, you can manually muddle the berries in a bowl until crushed.

3. Mix the lemonade: In a large pitcher, combine the cooled basil syrup, the strawberry puree, the remaining lemon juice, and the 4 cups of cold water. Stir vigorously to combine.

4. Adjust and Chill: Taste your lemonade. If it is too tart, add a little more syrup or honey; if too sweet, add another squeeze of lemon. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.

5. Serve: Fill glasses with ice and add the remaining fresh basil leaves (slap them between your palms first to release the oils). Pour the lemonade over the ice.

6. For the Spiked Version: If you're serving adults, stir in 1 cup of gin or vodka to the entire pitcher, or add a 1.5 oz shot to individual glasses before pouring the lemonade.

Notes

Questions