Strawberry Basil Lemonade

How many of you like lemonade? Do you make your own or buy the powdered kind from the store. I for one prefer to make my own at home. Just this past week my parents brought me about 10 pounds of fresh lemons from a friends tree in Tucson, AZ. They were HUGE! I mean giant, huge lemons. And you know what they say… when life hands you lemons… you should make strawberry basil lemonade (alcohol optional!)

It has seriously been 80 degrees this week in LA. Its perfect spring/summer weather for me. I am fairly certain that I have improved my tan by at least 2 shades this week just from my runs and driving with the windows down. It’s pretty amazing to say the least. I guess this is why I pay an obscene amount of money for rent. But whatever. It is what it is! I don’t know about you, but when I think of sitting outside and just the summer time in general, I immediately start thinking about refreshing cocktails or other drinks. I just automatically think of sitting with my girlfriends on the beach in Mexico with cocktails. They key to a refreshing spring/summer time cocktail is making sure it isn’t crazy strong because you want to be able to have a few, and you want it to be refreshing and light!

It is safe to say that this Strawberry Basil Lemonade is hands down the most amazing drink concoction I have ever made. (And I have made my fair share of drinks)

Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Ingredients

  • 10 lemons, juiced, approx 1 cup of lemon juice
  • 3/4 cup super fine sugar
  • 4 cups water
  • 8-10 strawberries, hulled
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil
  • 1/2 cup vodka (optional)

Instructions

  1. Juice the lemons and transfer the juice into a large pitcher.
  2. Add the sugar and the water and stir to combine and dissolve the sugar.
  3. Add the strawberries and basil.
  4. Using an immersion blender, blend the mixture for about 20 seconds just until the mixture turns pink and the basil is finely chopped.
  5. Add alcohol if desired. Serve with lots of crushed ice and go sit out by the pool and enjoy!
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97 thoughts on “Strawberry Basil Lemonade

  1. This looks AMAZING! An I am so envious of the warm weather!!! My basil is growing as we speak and I can’t wait for the fresh local strawberries at my farmers market. Mmmmm!

  2. Cindy – hahaha I hear ya on the Vodka – actually the first time I made this I made it with no alcohol and it was insanely delicious – so I guess I could go either way on this drink! Depends on the occasion :) I’ll make it for you next time we are all together!

    Maria – you have to try it! Its seriously the most amazing lemonade I have ever had – and I am a super picky lemonade drinker :)

  3. Gaby – This looks like an incredible, thirst quenching drink of desire! You can bet your freshly squeezed oranges I will be telling lex about this! Keep up the great work Gaby!

  4. I love, love, love savory lemonade combos. I usually buy mine at the restaurant Lemonade, but I would totally make this (and maybe add a little Proseco or vodka too)

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  6. Yum!! This looks like the perfect drink to celebrate this wondeful weather. I’m right outside of LA and have so enjoyed the outisde this week. Flip-flop weather is upon us! Love the cute little strawberries on the glasses too; what a cute touch!

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  8. Mouthwatering. Absolutely mouthwatering. I liked your strawberry basil lemonade recipe so much I have passed it along to almost everyone I know. I love the way you used fresh lemons. Where we live we don’t have ready access to fresh lemons so I order them online at http://www.buy-lemons-online.com/ which delivers fresh lemons picked right off the tree and shipped direct. A question I have regarding your recipe is what kind of lemons do you use? Eureka lemons? Or Lisbon lemons? Also, do you have any recipes for Sweet Meyer Lemons?

  9. I LOVE basil, so I am automatically attracted to any treat featuring basil… I had this idea that this might make some AWESOME sorbet. Anyways, I have plans to make this next time I get to the supermarket. Thanks!

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  11. I was on a retreat when I had my first sip of regular lemonade with basil. I was so thirsty, I disregarded how weird it was to see basil in lemonade. I thought it was just a rich person type lemonade. I WAS WRONG. It has been the BEST lemonade I’ve ever drank in my life. I can ONLY imagine how delicious this strawberry one is! I’m going to try this recipe!

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  14. Made this after buying local basil and strawberries at the farmers market today. Taking it to share at a party tonight… if I don’t drink it all myself first. Thanks for the recipe.

  15. It does look refreshing! Perfect for these global warming heat waves we’re experiencing. I am going to go right out, fix a batch of this and invite my neighbors over to sit on the porch with me.
    Beverly
    McKinleyville, CA

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  23. 10 lemons/1 cup?

    Wow, I usually only need 2/3 lemons to yield a cup of juice. Maybe the lemons I get are just really big?

  24. Love how easy and quick this recipe is. In the restaurant I work in we make lemonade and Ginger beer, but ferment it for a couple of days with yeast to get it sparkling, but your’s is awesome for just making because you feel like some right then and there!

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  30. I just found this recipe which looks amazing! My coworker just gave me lots of lemons from her backyard, I have strawberries from our CSA box and lots of basil from Trader Joe’s. I can’t wait to make this tonight!

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  40. Made this Saturday morning and took a pitcher to the inlet w/ my sister for some kayaking and relaxation! We both fell in love and she ended up making it the next day! Thanks for a very refreshing summertime drink… and for allowing me to use up some of my ever growing basil!

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  44. i can’t believe I stumbled across this recipe. Thank you so much. I just had some of these at Houlihan’s happy hour for the first time two weeks ago and I fell in love. Now I want to have a party and use your recipe so everyone can enjoy!

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  47. Is this okay to make a day in advance? Also will you get the same color using a regular blender?

    thanks!

    • you can absolutely make it a day in advance and a regular blender will be fine! The basil might turn a dark color if you make it the day before – so you could also add the basil right before you serve!

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