Yields: About 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill time: At least 1 hour
Ingredients
For the simple syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
For the lemonade
- 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 4-5 lemons)
- 2 cups coconut water (unsweetened is best)
- 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- Sparkling water or plain water, for serving (optional)
- Fresh strawberries, lemon slices, and mint sprigs for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Make the Simple Syrup
- Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves.
- Remove from heat and let cool completely. You can make this ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
2. Prepare the Lemonade
- In a blender, combine the strawberries and lemon juice. Blend until very smooth.
- Pour the strawberry-lemon mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids.
- Stir in the coconut water and simple syrup (start with 1/4 cup and add more if needed to reach your desired sweetness).
3. Chill and Serve
- Refrigerate the lemonade for at least an hour to allow the flavors to blend.
- To serve, fill glasses with ice. Pour in the chilled lemonade and top with sparkling water or plain water if you like it a little less concentrated.
- Garnish with fresh strawberries, lemon slices, and mint sprigs, if desired.
Tips
- Use the freshest, ripest strawberries you can find for the best flavor.
- Adjust the amount of simple syrup to your liking. If your strawberries are very sweet, you may need less.
- For a fun variation, muddle a few mint leaves in the bottom of each glass before adding the lemonade.
- Get creative with garnishes! Basil leaves or a slice of pineapple would be tasty additions.
