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Fresh Homemade Blueberry Lemonade with Basil Simple Syrup

fresh homemade blueberry lemonade - featured image
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A refreshing summer drink combining tart lemon, sweet blueberry, and fragrant basil simple syrup for a delicious and easy-to-make lemonade.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (240ml) water (for basil simple syrup)
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed (washed and dried)
  • 1 cup (150g) fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1 cup (240ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4–6 lemons)
  • 4 cups (960ml) cold water
  • Ice cubes, as needed
  • Fresh basil leaves and lemon slices for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the Basil Simple Syrup (about 15 minutes): Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves completely. Once dissolved, add the basil leaves and remove the pan from heat. Let the basil steep for 10 minutes, then strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve, pressing gently to extract all the flavor. Discard the basil leaves and set the syrup aside to cool.
  2. Prepare the Blueberry Puree (5 minutes): Place the blueberries in a blender and pulse until smooth. If using frozen, thaw first. Strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve to remove skins and seeds, pressing with a spoon to get as much juice as possible. Set aside.
  3. Juice the Lemons (5-7 minutes): Roll the lemons on your countertop to loosen the juice, then slice and squeeze them using a juicer or by hand. Measure out 1 cup (240ml) of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
  4. Mix the Lemonade (5 minutes): In a large pitcher, combine the cooled basil simple syrup, blueberry puree, lemon juice, and 4 cups (960ml) cold water. Stir well to mix all the flavors. Taste and add more water if desired. Add ice cubes to chill.
  5. Serve: Pour the lemonade into glasses over ice and garnish with fresh basil leaves and lemon slices if desired. Enjoy immediately.

Notes

Do not rush dissolving the sugar to avoid gritty texture. Remove basil from heat immediately after adding to prevent bitterness. Strain syrup and puree for smooth texture. Prepare syrup and puree ahead but mix lemonade just before serving to keep flavors fresh. Frozen blueberries should be thawed before blending. For a fizzy version, replace half the water with sparkling water.

Nutrition

Keywords: blueberry lemonade, basil simple syrup, summer drink, refreshing lemonade, homemade lemonade, blueberry drink, basil syrup, easy lemonade recipe

Find it online: https://daintydine.com/fresh-homemade-blueberry-lemonade-with-basil-simple-syrup-easy-recipe-for-summer/