Description
Strawberry Lemonade is the ultimate refreshing summer drink combining fresh strawberries and zesty lemon juice, lightly sweetened and chilled to perfection. This homemade lemonade is vibrant, naturally sweet, and perfect for cooling off on warm days or serving at gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberry Mixture
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled
- 1 cup granulated sugar, plus more to taste
- 2 cups water, divided
Lemonade Base
- 1 ½ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 8-10 lemons)
- 6 cups water
Serving
- Ice cubes, for serving
- Lemon slices and whole strawberries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Hull the Strawberries: Remove the green leafy parts from the strawberries to prepare them for maceration.
- Combine Strawberries and Sugar: In a medium bowl, mix the hulled strawberries with 1 cup of granulated sugar evenly.
- Macerate the Strawberries: Let the mixture sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes (up to an hour), stirring occasionally, until the strawberries release their juices and soften.
- Puree the Strawberry Mixture: Transfer the strawberry and sugar mixture to a blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth.
- Strain the Puree (Optional): To achieve a smoother lemonade, strain the puree through a fine-mesh sieve, discarding the seeds and solids.
- Squeeze the Lemons: Extract 1 ½ cups of juice from about 8-10 lemons, ensuring to remove any seeds.
- Combine Water and Lemon Juice: In a large pitcher, mix 6 cups of water with the freshly squeezed lemon juice and stir well.
- Add the Strawberry Puree: Pour the prepared strawberry puree into the pitcher and stir to combine thoroughly with the lemonade base.
- Taste and Adjust Sweetness: Sample the lemonade and add additional sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until your desired sweetness is achieved, stirring well after each addition.
- Add Remaining Water: Pour in the remaining 2 cups of water to dilute and balance the flavors, then stir well.
- Chill the Lemonade: Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably an hour or two, to chill the drink and allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the strawberry lemonade over ice cubes in glasses and garnish with lemon slices and whole strawberries if desired.
Notes
- Macerating the strawberries enhances their sweetness and flavor extraction without cooking.
- Straining the puree is optional but recommended for a smoother texture free of seeds.
- Adjust sweetness to your preference by adding more or less sugar.
- This lemonade can be made a few hours in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator.
- For a sparkling version, replace part or all of the water with sparkling water just before serving.
