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 fresh, lemony 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 splash still water
- 2 tbsp sugar or sweetener of your choice (more or less, depending on your 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 use the stems to make pesto.
Squeeze the lemon and grate some of the zest. It’s important that the lemon is organic and has been washed thoroughly beforehand.
Add the basil leaves, lemon juice, grated zest, a sweetener of your choice, and some cold water to a blender, and blend everything for a few seconds. Be careful not to blend for too long—just a few seconds! If you like your lemonade on the sweeter side, you can add another spoonful of sweetener. If you prefer it more herbaceous and refreshing, the sweetness 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 together 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.
Making basil lemonade takes only a few minutes—perfect when guests show up unexpectedly or you simply feel like having something special.
Why basil makes your lemonade a highlight
Why not just make a regular lemonade? Honestly, because basil gives this drink something unexpected. It doesn't simply taste like pesto; when combined properly, it 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, herbal, and incredibly refreshing at the same time.
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 its name suggests—adds an extra citrus note. Thai basil, on the other hand, has anise-like notes, which can be interesting but may take some getting used to. Regular basil from the supermarket or your balcony works wonderfully for your basil lemonade.
What I also find interesting: 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
The lemonade tastes fantastic not only combined with lemon, but also 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 for basil lemon-lime lemonade with an extra kick.
Spicy variations: Adding ginger gives the lemonade a sharper note—and that is exactly what makes basil ginger lemonade so special. Simply add a piece of fresh ginger (about 2 cm) to the blender. Ginger basil lemonade is perfect for anyone who enjoys a slightly more exotic flavor.
Fruity variations: For a strawberry basil lemonade, simply add a handful of strawberries or other berries to the blender. It not only looks beautiful in the carafe, but tastes fantastic too.
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 really boosts the refreshing effect.
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 is all it takes. Then pour it through a fine sieve – this makes the basil lemonade beautifully clear and free of bothersome pieces.
Choose the right basil: Fresh basil leaves are needed for this recipe – unfortunately, dried basil doesn’t work well here.
Sweeten to taste: Sugar alternatives such as agave syrup or maple syrup work well. Start with a little less sweetness and stir in 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 deliciously fizzy.
Shelf life: The lemonade tastes best well chilled and freshly prepared. It keeps for about 1–2 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container or carafe. But honestly: at our house, the lemonade is usually gone faster than I can keep track of.
If you’re looking for more summery recipes with fresh herbs, check out our Green Goddess Salad Recipe – basil also plays a starring role in it.
Substitution table
How often do we want to recreate 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 swap 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 splash still water
- 2 tbsp sugar or sweetener of your choice (more or less, depending on your 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.
