Description
A refreshing, homemade strawberry lemonade made with fresh fruit, simple syrup, and real lemon juice. This vibrant pink drink is ready in 15-30 minutes and offers a perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors without artificial ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped (about 450g)
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from approx. 6–8 lemons)
- 1 cup water (for blending)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water (for simple syrup)
- 3 to 4 cups cold water (for dilution)
- Ice cubes
- Optional garnishes: fresh mint leaves, lemon slices, whole strawberries
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- Prep the strawberries: Wash and hull the strawberries. Remove green tops and chop large berries in half.
- Zest and juice the lemons: Zest the lemons using a microplane, avoiding the bitter white pith. Cut lemons in half and squeeze to extract 1 cup of juice. Strain to remove seeds and large pulp.
- Blend the puree: In a blender, combine chopped strawberries, fresh lemon juice, 1 cup water, and lemon zest. Blend on high until smooth (30-60 seconds).
- Strain the mixture: Pour the strawberry-lemon mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Press down on pulp and seeds to extract liquid. Discard solids.
- Combine everything: In a large pitcher, combine the strained concentrate, cooled simple syrup, and 3 to 4 cups of cold water. Stir well and taste. Adjust sweetness or tartness as needed.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Serve over ice with optional garnishes like mint or lemon slices.
Notes
For a clearer drink, strain the mixture twice. Use cold ingredients for a crisp taste. Add a pinch of salt to enhance flavor. For a sparkling version, replace half the water with club soda just before serving. Strawberry ice cubes can be used to prevent dilution.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: strawberry lemonade, summer drink, homemade lemonade, fresh squeezed, non-alcoholic cocktail, party drink, gluten-free, vegan