A bright blend of strawberries, basil, and lemon for a fresh, thirst-quenching drink.
# Components:
→ Fruit & Herbs
01 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
02 - 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
03 - 1 lemon, sliced into thin wheels for garnish
→ Lemonade Base
04 - 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 2 to 3 lemons
05 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar, or honey or maple syrup to taste
06 - 3 cups cold water
07 - 1 cup ice cubes
→ Optional
08 - 1/2 cup sparkling water for topping
09 - Fresh strawberries for garnish
# Directions:
01 - In a blender, combine strawberries, basil leaves, lemon juice, and sugar. Blend until smooth.
02 - Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher to remove seeds and pulp, pressing gently with a spoon.
03 - Add cold water to the pitcher and stir to combine thoroughly.
04 - Add ice cubes and lemon slices to the pitcher.
05 - Taste the mixture and adjust sweetness by adding more sugar or syrup as needed.
06 - Pour into glasses over extra ice, topping with sparkling water for a fizzy finish if desired.
07 - Garnish with fresh basil leaves and strawberry slices.