Tart Nonalcoholic Strawberry Lemonade with Fresh, Sweet Berry Puree
Our pregnant friends inspired this nonalcoholic drink. No matter how cute that baby bump gets, nine months without cocktails is a bummer. Enter this fruity twist on old-fashioned lemonade. It’s much more special than seltzer—and, if anyone is drinking, also works nicely with a shot of rum mixed in.
Serves 6 to 8
INGREDIENTS:
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 5 cups cold water
- Zest from 2 lemons
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from 5 to 7 lemons)
- 1 pint strawberries (fresh or frozen), chopped in half and with the hulls removed
- 2 dozen ice cubes
INSTRUCTIONS:
- In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, 1 cup water, and the lemon zest. Simmer gently over moderate heat for 10 minutes; transfer to a bowl and let cool.
- Strain the syrup into a 2-quart serving pitcher. Stir in the lemon juice and remaining 4 cups water.
- In a blender, puree the strawberries.
- Pour the strawberry puree into the pitcher, stir in the ice, and serve.
TIP:
- To make lemon zest, just rub the medium-fine side of a grater over the lemon skin, stopping when you get to the white stuff (called the pith).
