Strawberry Basil Lemonade Refresh

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruit & Herbs

01 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and halved

02 - 1/2 cup 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

05 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar

06 - 3 cups cold water

07 - 1 cup ice cubes

→ Optional

08 - 1/2 cup sparkling water for topping

09 - Fresh strawberries for garnish

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine strawberries, basil leaves, lemon juice, and sugar in a blender. Blend until smooth consistency is achieved.

02 - Pour the blended mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing gently with a spoon to extract liquid while removing seeds and pulp.

03 - Pour cold water into the pitcher and stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.

04 - Add ice cubes and lemon slices to the pitcher, distributing evenly.

05 - Taste the lemonade and adjust sweetness by adding additional sugar or syrup as desired.

06 - Pour into glasses over extra ice and top with sparkling water if desired for a fizzy finish.

07 - Garnish each glass with fresh basil leaves and strawberry slices before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

It tastes like summer but comes together faster than you can say thirsty.
Fresh basil elevates it beyond typical lemonade, giving you that botanical complexity that makes people ask for the recipe.
Completely vegan and naturally gluten-free, so you can serve it to anyone without checking labels.

02 -

Straining is non-negotiable if you want a silky texture; skipping it leaves your drink gritty and unfinished.
Basil flavor fades quickly, so make this the morning of or the day before, but add ice and sparkling water just before serving to keep everything bright.

03 -