Description
A bright, refreshing, and herbal summer drink that combines sweet watermelon, zesty lemon, and aromatic mint and basil. This labor-day favorite is ready in just five minutes and requires no fancy equipment.
Ingredients
- 4 cups seedless watermelon, cubed (about 800g)
- 4 medium lemons (about 1 cup fresh juice)
- ½ cup simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves, packed (about 30g)
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, packed (about 15g)
- Ice cubes
- 1–2 cups sparkling water (optional)
- Garnish: watermelon wedges, mint sprigs, lemon slices
Instructions
- Cut the watermelon, remove the rind, and cube the flesh into chunks that fit your blender.
- Add watermelon chunks, fresh lemon juice, and half of the simple syrup to a high-speed blender.
- Pulse briefly, then blend on high until the mixture is completely smooth and silky.
- Add the fresh mint and basil leaves to the blender and blend just until combined to release oils without turning the drink muddy.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or nut milk bag into a large pitcher, pressing on the pulp to extract all liquid. Discard pulp.
- Taste the liquid and adjust sweetness with more simple syrup or tartness with more lemon juice as needed.
- Fill the pitcher with ice cubes and pour the strained liquid over the ice.
- Top with sparkling water if desired and stir gently.
- Garnish with mint sprigs and watermelon slices. Serve immediately.
Notes
[‘For a colder drink without dilution, freeze watermelon cubes beforehand and use them as ice.’, ‘Do not blend the woody stems of the basil or mint, as they can make the drink bitter.’, ‘If you prefer a smoothie texture, skip the straining step.’, ‘Simple syrup can be made by dissolving equal parts sugar and hot water.’, ‘Honey can be substituted for simple syrup, using about ¾ cup honey for every 1 cup sugar.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1
Keywords: watermelon lemonade, mint lemonade, basil lemonade, summer drinks, labor day recipes, refreshing beverages, gluten-free drinks, vegan drinks, easy cocktails, non-alcoholic punch