Basil-Infused Watermelon Lemonade
Becky Luigart-Stayner
Summer's favorite beverage meets one of summer's best fruits and gets an added burst of flavor from fresh basil. Because watermelon is naturally sweet, not much sugar is needed to make this lemonade.
How to Make It
Step 1
Combine 1 cup water and sugar in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Stir in basil; chill 1 hour. Strain sugar mixture through a sieve over a bowl, and discard basil.
Step 2
Place watermelon in a blender; process until smooth. Pour watermelon puree through a fine sieve into a large bowl, reserving liquid; discard solids. Combine watermelon liquid, sugar mixture, and juice in a pitcher; chill.
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RangerWife13's Review
Very yummy drink. I stirred in the leftover strained basil into the drink thinking it would make it even more special, but i won't be doing that again. It's best as a strained drink with just a sprig of basil for garnish. I don't think it's too sweet. My husband doesn't like how basil forward this drink tastes, so one really needs to like basil to enjoy. I wonder how this would be a some rum mixed in!
spotter77's Review
The farmer's market near me serves this, so I was dying to recreate it. It tastes like summer!
When I make it, though, I tend to just blend or crush basil leaves into the strained watermelon and let it infuse for a few hours. The sugar-basil infusion is a great idea, but it can be too sweet for some, so this is a decent alternative for those worried about sugar.
portland's Review
i did not care for this recipe - too sweet for my taste. my husband, however, thought it was good, refreshing. we recently had a hot spell so i served it over ice, and like watermelon, it was cooling on a long, hot summer day. easy enough to make.
ChelleyBones's Review
I have never drank watermelon before and was unsure how I would like this. However, I like all three flavors on their own. It is time consuming taking the seeds out of a so called "seedless" watermelon but worth the effort and dirty dishes. I turned a serving into a shaved ice for my toddler. Very good recipe and such a refreshing way to kick off the start of summer!
stellacorona's Review