Strawberry Basil Lemonade
This is lemonade with a sophisticated herbed twist. Other fruits and herbs can be substituted. Make it a cocktail by adding vodka to the finished drinks. We love this lemonade for the Assumption and also for the feast of the Holy Cross, which is traditionally associated with basil.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup lemon juice about 10 lemons
- 1 lb strawberries about 4 cups, fresh or frozen
- ½ cup tightly-packed fresh basil leaves
- 4 cups ice plus more for glasses
- Extra strawberries lemons, and basil for garnishing if desired.
Instructions
- To make the strawberry basil syrup:
- Combine sugar, water, basil, and strawberries in a medium saucepan on the stove. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and mash strawberries with a potato masher or whisk. Cover and let it steep for 5 minutes. Pour syrup through a large mesh strainer into a pitcher. Discard the solids (or let your kids eat them).
- To make the lemonade:
- Add two cups of ice to the syrup and stir to melt the ice and cool the syrup. Add lemon juice and stir. Add ice cubes to glasses. Pour strawberry basil lemonade over the ice. If desired, add lemon rounds, lemon twists, fresh strawberry halves, and/or sprigs of basil to glasses as a garnish.
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