Rhubarb-Strawberry Lemonade with a Hint of Basil - photo 1
← Recipes

Rhubarb-Strawberry Lemonade with a Hint of Basil

Drinks For Kids Vegan dishes 60 min Easy 12 wyświetleń ~30.55 PLN - (0)
Rate:
(0)
Start Cooking

Description

Refreshing, homemade lemonade with a beautiful ruby color, which is the essence of early summer. It combines tart rhubarb, sweet, ripe strawberries, and a surprising, slightly spicy note of fresh basil. This drink is not just an ordinary lemonade – it is a true taste experience that balances sweetness and acidity, with a herbal finish. Perfectly quenches thirst on hot days and serves as a wonderful non-alcoholic alternative to cocktails during garden or terrace gatherings. Visually stunning with its intense color, served in a large glass pitcher with ice cubes, lemon slices, and herb leaves, it becomes a decoration for any table. It is a modern interpretation of traditional seasonal compotes that will surely surprise and delight your guests.

Ingredients (9)

Servings:
6
  • Rhubarb 400 g
  • Fresh strawberries 250 g
  • White sugar 150 g
  • Water 500 ml
  • Lemon juice 80 ml
  • Sparkling water 1000 ml
  • 🌿 Przyprawy
  • Fresh basil 0.5 pęczek
  • ✨ Opcjonalne
  • Fresh mint 0.1 pęczków
  • Ice cubes 300 g
💰 Szacowany koszt dania: ~30.55 PLN (5.09 PLN/porcję)

💡 Kliknij na składnik aby oznaczyć jako użyty

Preparation steps

Preparation of rhubarb-strawberry syrup

1

Start by preparing the rhubarb. Rinse each stalk thoroughly under cold running water. Cut off the woody ends from both sides and discard them. If you are using young, thin rhubarb, you do not need to peel it. Next, using a sharp knife on a cutting board, cut the stalks crosswise into smaller pieces, about 1-2 cm thick.

Ingredients: Rhubarb
Use a stable cutting board to avoid slipping the knife. Young, pink rhubarb will give the syrup a beautiful color. Older, thicker rhubarb can be peeled of its outer fibers using a vegetable peeler.
2

Now it's time for the strawberries. Transfer them to a large bowl or a colander and gently but thoroughly wash them under cold water. Then dry them by laying them out on a paper towel. Remove the green stems from each strawberry. You can do this with a small knife or a special stem removal tool. Cut larger fruits in half or into quarters, while smaller ones can be left whole.

Ingredients: Fresh strawberries
Do not soak the strawberries in water for too long, as they will absorb it and lose their flavor. Remove the stems only after washing the fruit, so that water does not get inside.
3

Prepare the syrup. In a medium-sized pot (with a capacity of about 2-3 liters), place the chopped rhubarb, prepared strawberries, sugar, and 500 ml of water. Set the pot over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar. Once the syrup starts to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes. The syrup is ready when the rhubarb has completely broken down and the strawberries are very soft.

Ingredients: Rhubarb, Fresh strawberries, White sugar, Water
It is best to use a pot with a thick bottom, which will prevent the sugar from burning. Do not cook the syrup over too high a heat, as the water may evaporate too quickly and the fruits will not have time to release all their flavor.
4

Add the basil flavor. Remove the pot with the hot syrup from the heat. Wash the fresh basil leaves, gently dry them, and add them whole to the hot syrup. Cover the pot with a lid and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. During this time, the basil will release its essential oils, giving the syrup a unique, herbal aroma.

Ingredients: Fresh basil
Do not cook basil with the fruits, as it will lose its fresh aroma and may become bitter. Steeping in hot syrup is the best way to extract its flavor.
5

Strain the syrup. Prepare a large bowl and place a fine sieve or colander lined with a double layer of cheesecloth on top. Carefully pour the contents of the pot through the sieve. Allow the syrup to drain freely into the bowl. Then, using the back of a spoon or spatula, gently press the fruit against the sieve to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the fruit pulp left in the sieve.

For a perfectly clear syrup, resist the temptation to press the fruit too hard through the sieve – this can cause the liquid to become cloudy. Gentle pressing is sufficient.
6

Cool the syrup. Leave the strained syrup in a bowl to cool completely to room temperature. Then cover the bowl with plastic wrap or pour the syrup into a sealed bottle or jar and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill well. Cold syrup mixes better with sparkling water.

Never add sparkling water to warm syrup, as the drink will immediately lose its bubbles. Patience at this stage is key to achieving the perfect refreshment.

Lemonade composition

7

Prepare the lemonade. Take a large glass pitcher (with a capacity of about 2 liters) out of the fridge. Pour the entire chilled rhubarb-strawberry syrup and freshly squeezed lemon juice into it. Use a long spoon to mix both liquids thoroughly.

Ingredients: Lemon juice
Using a glass pitcher will beautifully showcase the color of the lemonade. You can adjust the amount of lemon juice to your liking – if you prefer more sour drinks, add more.
8

Finish and serve. Fill the pitcher with syrup and a generous amount of ice cubes (about halfway up). Then slowly pour in the very cold sparkling water until the pitcher is full. Gently stir everything with a long spoon, making one or two movements from the bottom to the top to combine the ingredients without losing too many bubbles. Optionally, for decoration and extra flavor, add a few sprigs of fresh mint or basil leaves to the pitcher. Serve immediately in tall glasses.

Ingredients: Sparkling water, Ice cubes, Fresh mint
Pour the sparkling water down the side of the pitcher to minimize the loss of carbonation. Each glass can be additionally decorated with a slice of lemon, half a strawberry, and a mint leaf.

Fun Fact

💡

Although rhubarb is commonly used in desserts and treated like a fruit, from a botanical point of view, it is a vegetable. In 1947, a court in the United States officially classified it as a fruit to lower import duties, which were higher on vegetables.

Best for

Letnie przyjęcie w ogrodzie Piknik Orzeźwiający napój dla dzieci Bezalkoholowy drink na spotkanie z przyjaciółmi

Tips

🍽️ Serving

Serve the lemonade immediately after preparation in tall glasses filled with ice. Garnish each serving with a fresh sprig of mint, a basil leaf, and a slice of lemon or lime. For an adult version, you can add 40 ml of gin or vodka to each glass, or top the lemonade with chilled Prosecco instead of part of the sparkling water.

🥡 Storage

It is best to consume the prepared lemonade immediately, as it loses its bubbles over time. The rhubarb-strawberry syrup can be stored in a tightly sealed bottle or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. This way, you can make fresh lemonade on the spot by mixing the syrup with sparkling water just before serving.

📸 Ugotowane przez społeczność

Zaloguj się, aby dodać zdjęcie
Dodaj zdjęcie gotowej potrawy

Po zatwierdzeniu przez moderatora otrzymasz 10 punktów doświadczenia.

🍲

Nikt jeszcze nie dodał zdjęcia. Bądź pierwszy!

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment on this recipe!

Add a comment

You might also like

Quick Winter Lunchbox: Quinoa with Roasted Beets, Crispy Chickpeas, and Tahini Sauce 40 min

Quick Winter Lunchbox: Quinoa with Roasted...

Takeaway Dishes
Bowl with roasted sweet potato, black quinoa, and tahini-orange sauce 50 min

Bowl with roasted sweet potato, black quin...

Takeaway Dishes
Fruit tea 30 min

Fruit tea

Drinks
Traditional mulled wine with honey, orange, and spices 30 min

Traditional mulled wine with honey, orange...

Drinks
Summer Garden Tea 'Sunny Meadow' 30 min

Summer Garden Tea 'Sunny Meadow'

Drinks
Aksamitna zupa krem z czerwonej soczewicy 45 min

Aksamitna zupa krem z czerwonej soczewicy

Soups

Recipe Categories

Drinks
Drinks in: New Year's Eve

Drinks for New Year's Eve should be diverse so that every guest can find something for themselves - from champagne to cocktails.

See all recipes in this category
For Kids
For Kids

Recipes for kids are tasty, healthy, and visually appealing dishes - for little picky eaters and food lovers. Colorful and fun dishes: animals made from vegetables, faces from food, and rainbow plates. Hidden vegetables: spinach in pancakes, carrots in sauce, and zucchini in batter. Energetic bre...

See all recipes in this category
Vegan dishes
Vegan dishes

Vegan cuisine features delicious dishes without animal products - healthy, ethical, and environmentally friendly. Plant-based protein: tofu, tempeh, soy, lentils, chickpeas, and beans take center stage. Vegan dairy substitutes: plant milks, cashew cheese, and vegan yogurts. Recipes for vegan burg...

See all recipes in this category
Reklama