Fresh Sparkling Strawberry Basil Lemonade
A refreshing and unique sparkling lemonade blending sweet-tart strawberries, zesty lemons, and aromatic basil, perfect for summer gatherings and quick refreshment.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 4 large lemons (about 1 cup or 240 ml fresh lemon juice)
- 10–12 fresh basil leaves, gently torn
- 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar (or honey/agave syrup as substitute)
- 2 cups (480 ml) water (for simple syrup)
- 4 cups (960 ml) chilled sparkling water
- Ice cubes, as needed
Instructions
- Make the basil simple syrup: Combine 3/4 cup sugar and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Add torn basil leaves. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes to infuse basil flavor. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Strain out basil leaves and set syrup aside.
- Prepare the strawberries: Rinse, hull, and slice strawberries. Puree in a blender or food processor until smooth but slightly textured (about 30 seconds). Alternatively, mash by hand.
- Juice the lemons to yield about 1 cup (240 ml) fresh lemon juice, removing seeds.
- In a large pitcher, stir together the cooled basil simple syrup, pureed strawberries, and fresh lemon juice until well combined.
- Just before serving, add 4 cups (960 ml) chilled sparkling water and stir gently to preserve bubbles. Add ice cubes to chill.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh basil leaves and a slice of strawberry or lemon if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use ripe, fresh strawberries and freshly squeezed lemon juice for best flavor. Do not add sparkling water too early to preserve fizz. Adjust sweetness by adding more sugar or lemon juice as needed. Basil simple syrup infusion unlocks aromatic oils better than adding basil leaves at the end. Frozen strawberries can be used if thawed and mashed first. Substitute sugar with honey, agave, or sugar substitutes like stevia for dietary preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 fl oz (240 ml)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: strawberry lemonade, basil lemonade, sparkling lemonade, summer drink, refreshing beverage, homemade lemonade, basil simple syrup