Strawberry Basil Lemonade (Printer-friendly)

A vibrant, sweet, and zesty blend of strawberries, basil, and lemon perfect for a refreshing drink.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Fruit & Herbs

01 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
02 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
03 - 1 lemon, sliced into thin wheels for garnish

→ Lemonade Base

04 - 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
05 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
06 - 3 cups cold water
07 - 1 cup ice cubes

→ Optional

08 - 1/2 cup sparkling water for topping
09 - Fresh strawberries for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Combine strawberries, basil leaves, lemon juice, and sugar in a blender. Blend until completely smooth.
02 - Pour the blended mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher to remove seeds and pulp, pressing gently with a spoon.
03 - Add cold water to the pitcher and stir well to combine all ingredients.
04 - Add ice cubes and lemon slices to the pitcher.
05 - Taste the lemonade and adjust sweetness by adding more sugar if needed.
06 - Pour into glasses over additional ice and top with sparkling water if desired.
07 - Top each glass with fresh basil leaves and strawberry slices before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like a fancy cocktail but requires zero alcohol knowledge and works for everyone at the table.
  • You can make it in under 15 minutes, which means no excuses on hot days when you actually want something cold and interesting.
  • The basil does something unexpected—it keeps the drink from being cloyingly sweet and adds this sophisticated green note that catches people off guard in the best way.
02 -
  • Over-blending turns everything into foam instead of juice—blend until smooth but don't walk away and let it run for 30 seconds while you check your phone, because that's when the basil gets aggressive and bitter.
  • Straining is non-negotiable if you want an elegant drink; skipping this step gives you a pulpy situation that separates and looks sad by the time people get to the bottom of their glass.
03 -
  • Chill your glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes before serving—the coldness makes every sip taste more refreshing and the drink stays cold longer.
  • If you're serving this at a gathering, make the base the morning of and keep it covered in the fridge, then assemble individual drinks to order so each one is perfectly cold and perfectly balanced.
Go Back