10 Minuten
Imagine this: The sun is blazing outside, you’re sitting on the balcony, and in your hand you’re holding an ice-cold glass of zesty, fresh basil lemonade. Sounds good? It is. Basil can do much more than just pesto! Our refreshing lemonade consists of - surprise - fresh basil, citrus fruits, a sweetener of your choice, ice cubes, and water. You don’t need anything else for this very special summer drink.
In this recipe, I’ll show you how to make this lemonade yourself in just a few minutes - and which brilliant variations you absolutely have to try.
Nährwerte pro Portion
ZUTATEN
- 40 fresh basil leaves
- juice of one lemon
- zest of one washed organic lemon
- 1 sip still water
- 2 tbsp sugar or sweetener of your choice (more or less to taste)
- 1 handful ice cubes
- Optional: 1 lime, basil leaves for garnish
- 600 ml sparkling water
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Notes
- Missing an ingredient? No problem! In the recipe, you’ll find alternatives to the ingredients listed here in a substitution table!
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A little tip for extra protein: Simply add some protein powder to your lemonade.
Ausverkauft
Hinweis: Die angegebenen Nährwerte sind Richtwerte und können je nach verwendeten Produkten, Portionsgröße und Zubereitung abweichen.
Zubereitung
Wash the basil and pluck off the leaves. You can still use the stems to make pesto.
Squeeze the lemon and grate some of the zest. It is important that the lemon is organic and has been washed thoroughly beforehand.
Put the basil leaves, lemon juice, grated zest, a sweetener of your choice, and some cold water in a blender and blend everything for a few seconds. Careful, don’t blend for too long - just a few seconds! If you like your lemonade on the sweeter side, you can add an extra spoonful of sweetener. If you prefer it more herbal and refreshing, the sweetener should already be enough.
Pour this liquid through a fine-mesh sieve and transfer it to a tall carafe.
Optionally slice a washed organic lime and add it along with fresh ice cubes and a few basil leaves.
Top everything up with sparkling water and enjoy your chilled lemonade!
Recipe Note
If you want to enjoy your fizzy lemonade throughout the afternoon, you can simply skip step 6 and, whenever you get thirsty, pour a little of your "lemonade base" into a glass with ice cubes and top it up with sparkling water.
Preparing basil lemonade takes just a few minutes - perfect when guests drop by unexpectedly or when you simply feel like having something special.
Why basil makes your lemonade a highlight
Why not just make regular lemonade? Honestly, because basil gives this drink something unexpected. It doesn't simply taste like pesto, but - when combined properly - is more floral and sweet. So it's perfect for lemonade! Combined with the acidity of the lemon, it creates a flavor that is sweet, herby, and still incredibly refreshing.
The flavor of your "basil lemonade" also varies depending on the type of basil. While classic sweet basil tastes rather floral and balanced, lemon basil - as the name suggests - adds an extra citrus note. Thai basil, on the other hand, has anise-like notes, which are intriguing but can take some getting used to. For your basil lemonade, regular basil from the supermarket or your balcony works wonderfully.
One more interesting fact: Fresh basil contains vitamin K! Of course, a glass of lemonade doesn't provide a huge amount - but hey, it's better than nothing, right?
Brilliant variations of your basil lemonade
Lemonade tastes fantastic not only combined with lemon, but also together with lime, ginger, or berries!
Citrus variations: Classic lemon basil lemonade is already fantastic. If you prefer something a little more tart, try basil lime lemonade - limes add even more freshness and a slightly bitter note. You can also mix lemon and lime to make basil lemon-lime lemonade with an extra kick.
Spicy variations: Adding ginger gives the lemonade a spicier note - and that is precisely what makes basil ginger lemonade so special. Simply add a piece of fresh ginger (approx. 2 cm) to the blender. Ginger basil lemonade is perfect for anyone who likes a slightly more exotic flavor.
Fruity variations: For a strawberry basil lemonade, simply add a handful of strawberries or other berries to the blender. Not only does it look beautiful in the carafe, it also tastes fantastic.
Refreshing combinations: Cucumber basil lemonade may sound unusual at first, but it's incredibly cooling on hot days. Simply blend a few cucumber slices and add a few fresh slices to the carafe. And basil mint lemonade? An absolute summer classic. The mint boosts the refreshing effect even more.
Tips for the perfect homemade basil lemonade
To make your homemade lemonade a complete success, I'm sharing my most important tips with you here:
Don't blend for too long: If you leave the basil in the blender for too long, the lemonade can become bitter. A few seconds on high speed are completely sufficient. Then pour it through a fine sieve - this makes the basil lemonade beautifully clear and free of annoying bits.
Choose the right basil: Fresh basil leaves are needed for this recipe - dried basil unfortunately doesn't work well here.
Sweeten to your liking: Sugar alternatives such as agave syrup or maple syrup work well. Start with a little less sweetness and add more if needed - that way, you'll find your perfect balance.
Preserve the carbonation: Add the sparkling water just before serving so the carbonation doesn't dissipate. This keeps your basil soda delightfully fizzy.
Shelf life: The lemonade tastes best well chilled and freshly prepared. In the refrigerator, it keeps for about 1-2 days in a sealed container or carafe. But honestly: At our house, the lemonade is usually gone before I know it.
If you're looking for more summery recipes with fresh herbs, take a look at our Green Goddess salad recipe too - basil also plays a leading role in it.
Substitution table
How often do we want to make a recipe, but are missing certain ingredients or don't like individual components? That's why we've put together this substitution table for you, so you can adapt this basil lemonade recipe to your liking! Simply replace individual ingredients as you wish!
Sugar → agave syrup, maple syrup, coconut blossom sugar
Lemons → limes
Sparkling water → tonic water or still water
Ice cubes → frozen lemon slices
ZUTATEN
- 40 fresh basil leaves
- juice of one lemon
- zest of one washed organic lemon
- 1 sip still water
- 2 tbsp sugar or sweetener of your choice (more or less to taste)
- 1 handful ice cubes
- Optional: 1 lime, basil leaves for garnish
- 600 ml sparkling water
-
Notes
- Missing an ingredient? No problem! In the recipe, you’ll find alternatives to the ingredients listed here in a substitution table!
-
A little tip for extra protein: Simply add some protein powder to your lemonade.
Ausverkauft
Hinweis: Die angegebenen Nährwerte sind Richtwerte und können je nach verwendeten Produkten, Portionsgröße und Zubereitung abweichen.
