Photo: Leigh Loftus
You know what I’m good at? Making lemonade.
No, there is no analogy here, I’m not saying that when life hands me lemons I am good at turning it into a positive situation. Because I’m actually not. I am, however, good at literally taking the lemons from my fridge and creating a tasty, refreshing summer beverage.
[Related: I’m also not so great at photographing said lemonade but don’t let that stop you from making it. I’m sure yours will look worlds prettier.] Lemon and basil is such a good savory combination that I couldn’t stop thinking about how it would be in something sweeter. However, after an indulgent weekend followed by a baking spree that resulted in a cheesecake and a savory galette, I thought I should keep things a little lighter.This is a great way to cool off or rehydrate, if you wanted to add some vodka to this to make it adults-only, I certainly won’t be the one to stop you.
Photo: Leigh Loftus
Fresh Basil Lemonade
Adapted from Food Network
What You Need:
2 cups sugar
6 cups water
2 cups fresh lemon juice (about 10 lemons)
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
How-To:
1. Make simple syrup. Place 2 cups sugar and 2 cups water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved and let cool.
2. Place lemon juice in a large pitcher, add remaining 4 cups water and 1 cup of the simple syrup or more to taste. Stir in mint leaves and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve over ice.
[print_link]
54 Comments
Easy Summer Cookout Menu Ideas for July Fourth
February 6, 2017 at 12:24 am[…] Fresh Basil Lemonade from In Good Taste […]
Memorial Day Cookout Menu – In Good Taste
May 24, 2014 at 5:01 pm[…] will free you up to focus on more important things, like strawberry sangria, pomegranate sangria or fresh basil lemonade (spiked or […]
Amber-Jean
August 21, 2011 at 4:46 pmSo hot here today, made this with a peach cobbler and impressed everyone. Thanks for the great recipe!
Lovely Long Weekend – Gazelles On Crack
July 5, 2011 at 1:53 pm[…] made sangria. And guacamole. And basil lemonade (which, by the way, is a great base for a French 75; just add gin & top with champagne. […]
natalie (the sweets life)
June 27, 2011 at 12:22 pmnormally I’m not a huge lemonade fan but I love basil and this combination sounds fabulous!!
Shaina
June 27, 2011 at 7:59 amWe made a strawberry basil lemonade not that long ago. Love the addition of herbs!
Sawsan@chef in disguise
June 27, 2011 at 12:51 amBasil lemonade sounds heavenly..
will definetly try it soon as I have a basil bush threatening to takeover my kitchen
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
June 26, 2011 at 9:28 amI’ve never been very good at making lemonade. I see the secret is making a simple syrup first. I’ll have to give it a try.
chopinandmysaucepan
June 26, 2011 at 7:35 amGeez, this is so simple and yet why dont more people think of adding some basil leaves to some homemade lemonade??? What a great thirst quencher, especially in summer!
Maria @ Scandifoodie
June 26, 2011 at 12:18 amLove how refreshing this sounds! I’ll have to save this for our summer months to come 🙂
Dishes of Mrs. Fish
June 25, 2011 at 10:20 pmThis sounds so refreshing and perfect for summer entertaining!
BakerbyNature
June 25, 2011 at 9:04 pmYour post made me laugh; I am also not so good with the lemon to lemonade situation when dealing with life. However, this I may be able to handle! Looks so refreshing.
Susan
June 25, 2011 at 9:02 pmI planted so much basil this spring. With basil I feel you can never plant enough. I would love to try some in this lemonade!
bellini
June 25, 2011 at 8:54 pmThis would certainly quench my thrist Maris!!! Loving this version!
Reeni
June 25, 2011 at 7:35 pmGreat idea to use up all the basil from my garden! Love it!
Sherilyn @ Wholepromise
June 25, 2011 at 5:00 pmThis looks and sounds so refreshing.
Nami @ Just One Cookbook
June 25, 2011 at 4:51 pmI love your confidence in making lemonade and I just jotted down for tonight’s dinner as I have some guests coming over. Great timing! Never added basil, but I like it sounds a little fancier than regular lemonade. 😉
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy
June 25, 2011 at 1:09 pmBasil makes everything divine- I want a tall glass right away to kill this scorching heat.
Sanjeeta kk
June 25, 2011 at 12:24 pmThis look so refreshing, have a similar recipe at my blog with mint 🙂 Glad to come here thru twitter.
Nelly Rodriguez
June 25, 2011 at 11:53 amLovee this combination! Simple and looks sooo refreshing!
polwig
June 25, 2011 at 10:17 amWOW… that sounds so refreshing..,.. lemon/basil mojitos later ?
The Slow Roasted Italian
June 25, 2011 at 10:10 amHow absolutely wonderful. I have fresh basil and a few of the last lemons from my tree! Can’t wait to try this!
Mary
June 25, 2011 at 8:54 amI’ve just finished making a pitcher of this. So far, so good! It is delicious.Doesn’t everyone have lemonade for breakfast? Have a wonderful weekend. Blessings…Mary
Liz
June 25, 2011 at 6:34 amYour photos look darn good to me! Perfect summer refresher!!!!
T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types
June 25, 2011 at 5:52 amLooks wonderfully refreshing – I’m going to grab a handful of basil at the farm! (And, I’ll probably give the vodka a try!)
Junia @ Mis Pensamientos
June 24, 2011 at 11:13 pmi’ve heard so much about adding basil to drinks, but i haven’t tried it yet!!! this looks fabulous!
Laura @ SweetSavoryPlanet
June 24, 2011 at 10:47 pmYour photos are making me thirsty and you just gave me inspiration for my lime-thyme!
Angela
June 24, 2011 at 10:36 pmI think your photo is lovely:)
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
June 24, 2011 at 10:22 pmYou know this is such a clever idea! Basil and Summer go together as well as lemonade and Summer! 😀
The Harried Cook
June 24, 2011 at 10:00 pmYum! Sounds like some awesome flavors! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Roz
June 24, 2011 at 9:07 pmOOOH….this sounds sooo good. At the risk of sounding like a boozer….I bet some vodka added would make a really good cocktail for our weekly “Cocktail Sunday”! I’ve bookmarked this…
Have a great weekend Maris.
Aggie
June 24, 2011 at 8:42 pmAhhhh, lemonade. So summer so refreshing. I really love that you threw basil in this, would never think to do that!
Mena
February 15, 2012 at 7:43 pmThat’s a wise answer to a tricky quetison
lisa @ smart food and fit
June 24, 2011 at 8:00 pmI always add mint to my drinks but I should try it with basil. I just planted some lemon verbana to give my drinks a different twist! Great combination!
Greg
June 24, 2011 at 7:37 pmThat sounds wonderful. I have so much mint, I’m always using that. I should take a break, or just make two different batches.
Maureen
June 24, 2011 at 6:30 pmAnother success! Flavored lemonade just takes it up a notch and makes it fancy — even for family.
Heather @girlichef
June 24, 2011 at 6:17 pmAwesome…that sounds so good!
rebecca
June 24, 2011 at 6:17 pmawesome drink on my to do list
Tessa
June 24, 2011 at 6:03 pmThis sounds so good right about now. Just checked the temperature and it’s 106 degrees outside!
yummychunklet
June 24, 2011 at 5:47 pmLooks delicious, refreshing, and cooling!
Daryl
June 24, 2011 at 5:07 pmWish I had one right now
EA-The Spicy RD
June 24, 2011 at 4:58 pmOh, yum! I recently made strawberry lemonade. Very refreshing too. I’m sure a dash of vodka would be nice in either one 🙂
Caroline
June 24, 2011 at 4:23 pmI love the combination of lemon and basil. Homemade lemonade is so much better than the caloric store-bought lemonade with loads of sugar. Ha! Great suggestion to add a bit of vodka–I’m sure it would be delicious. 🙂
Lauren@LittleYellowKitchen
June 24, 2011 at 4:05 pmSo simple and refreshing! A dash of vodka wouldn’t hurt in there 😉
The Waspy Redhead
June 24, 2011 at 3:39 pmSo refreshing on hot summer days!
Donna
June 24, 2011 at 3:32 pmI love home made lemonade with REAL lemons. Basil is an addition I must try!
Shannon
June 24, 2011 at 3:24 pmi have some meyer lemon juice that i stuck in the freezer this winter… and lemonade is a perfect use for it! love the basil addition 🙂
marci
June 24, 2011 at 3:17 pmHah, we have the same post today! Mine is with mint!
Tracy
June 24, 2011 at 3:07 pmPerfect combination! I can’t wait to start getting fresh basil from our CSA so I can try this. 🙂
Erica
June 24, 2011 at 2:59 pmnom nom! You know, I don’t think I’ve ever actually MADE lemonade without using a powder (gross, I know…). This sounds so refreshing
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
June 24, 2011 at 2:55 pmMmm, that sounds so refreshing!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing
June 24, 2011 at 2:18 pmLOVE basil – so i am certain i would love this too! And I love herbs so much I totally eat the leaves out of cocktails :). <– weirdo.
sarah
June 24, 2011 at 2:13 pmI love basil and lemon together. It’s so hot here right now, and this looks so refreshing.
Shari @ Chicago Cuisine Critique
June 24, 2011 at 2:07 pmBasil + Lemonade. Love it!