Description
A refreshing homemade strawberry lemonade made with fresh strawberries, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and a simple sugar syrup. Perfectly sweetened and chilled for a delightful summer beverage.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberry Puree
- 1/2 pound fresh strawberries, stems removed
Simple Syrup
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups water
Lemonade
- 1 1/2 cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 2 1/2 cups cold water
- Optional additional water for adjusting sweetness
Instructions
- Puree Strawberries: Use a blender or food processor to puree the strawberries until smooth. For a smoother texture, strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds.
- Make Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the granulated sugar and 2 cups of water. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a boil.
- Cool Syrup: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the simple syrup cool to room temperature before using.
- Combine Ingredients: Strain the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart pitcher to remove pulp and seeds. Add the cooled simple syrup and the pureed strawberries to the pitcher. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Chill: Refrigerate the mixture until it is cold and ready to serve, about 1 hour.
- Adjust & Serve: Before serving, add 2 1/2 cups of cold water to the pitcher and stir. Taste the lemonade and add more water if it is too sweet. Serve over ice for a refreshing drink.
Notes
- Straining the strawberry puree and lemon juice provides a smoother texture, but can be skipped for a more rustic drink.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of simple syrup or adding more water to suit your taste.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor and brightness.
- Store leftover lemonade in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a sparkling version, replace some or all of the cold water with sparkling water just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
