Description

A refreshing, vibrant pink summer drink made with fresh strawberries, basil, lemon juice, and sparkling water. It is fast to prepare, naturally gluten-free and vegan, and perfect for entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pint (450g) fresh strawberries, hulled
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
½ cup (120ml) water
½ cup (120ml) fresh lemon juice (about 2–3 lemons)
2–3 cups (500-750ml) sparkling water/seltzer
Ice cubes or frozen strawberry chunks
Garnish: Extra basil leaves, thin lemon wheels, or halved strawberries

Instructions

Add hulled strawberries, fresh basil leaves, sugar, and water to a blender. Pulse to break up ingredients, then blend on high for 30-45 seconds until a smooth, bright pink puree forms.
Place a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl or measuring cup. Pour the blended mixture through the strainer, pressing down on the pulp with a spoon to extract liquid. Discard solids. You should have about 1 to 1.5 cups of syrup.
Squeeze fresh lemons to obtain ½ cup of juice. If you have less, add water to the syrup; if more, add a touch more sugar to balance tartness.
In a large pitcher, combine the strawberry-basil syrup and fresh lemon juice. Stir well and taste. Adjust sweetness or tartness as needed.
Fill serving glasses with ice. Pour the strawberry-lemon base over the ice, filling each glass halfway. Top with cold sparkling water and stir gently.
Garnish with a basil leaf or lemon wheel and serve immediately.

Notes

For best results, add sparkling water just before serving to maintain carbonation. The base (syrup + lemon juice) can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. If serving a crowd, freeze half the strawberries to use as ice cubes to prevent dilution. A pinch of sea salt in the syrup enhances the strawberry flavor.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Beverages
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 65
Sugar: 14
Carbohydrates: 16
Protein: 1

Keywords: summer drink, strawberry lemonade, basil lemonade, sparkling drink, gluten-free, vegan, 5-minute recipe, party drink, non-alcoholic cocktail