A vibrant and creamy lemonade twist featuring the refreshing blend of lemons and limes, infused with sweet strawberries and aromatic basil, creating a uniquely invigorating beverage.
Course Drinks
Cuisine Brazilian, Fusion
Keyword Basil, Drink, Lemon, Lime, Strawberry
Prep Time 13 minutesminutes
Servings 8
Author Chef Cameron
Ingredients
3medium lemonswashed thoroughly, ends trimmed
2medium limeswashed thoroughly, ends trimmed
6cupscold waterdivided
114 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 ½cupsfresh strawberrieshulled
¼cupfresh basil leavespacked
Ice for serving
Optional garnishes: extra strawberry slicesfresh basil sprigs, lemon/lime slices
Instructions
Prepare the Citrus:
Roughly quarter the lemons and limes.
Place the citrus quarters in a blender.
Blend the Primary Lemon Limeade Base:
Add 4 cups of the cold water to the blender with the citrus.
Blend on high for about 30-60 seconds, or until the citrus peels are mostly pulverized. Be careful not to over-blend, as this can make the drink bitter.
Immediately pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve (or a nut milk bag/cheesecloth-lined colander) into a large pitcher or bowl. Use the back of a spoon to press out as much liquid as possible, discarding the pulp and seeds. This step is crucial for removing bitterness.
Blend the Strawberry-Basil Infusion:
Rinse the blender.
Add the hulled strawberries, fresh basil leaves, and the remaining 2 cups of cold water to the blender.
Blend until the strawberries and basil are completely pureed and the mixture is smooth.
Combine and Sweeten:
Pour the strawberry-basil puree into the pitcher with the strained lemon-lime base.
Add the entire can of sweetened condensed milk to the pitcher.
Stir vigorously until everything is thoroughly combined and the condensed milk is fully dissolved.
Chill and Serve:
Taste the lemon limeade and adjust sweetness or tartness if desired (you can add a bit more condensed milk for sweetness, or a squeeze more fresh lemon/lime juice for tartness).
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill completely.
Serve over plenty of ice, garnished with extra strawberry slices, fresh basil sprigs, or citrus slices.