Basil-Infused Watermelon Lemonade

By Kim Biegacki
@pistachyoo

Wow, this is an incredible tasting lemonade!!! It was my first time to infuse and I just love the delicate taste of basil with the Watermelon Lemonade. I look forward to making this for Memorial Day Weekend, as I know the whole family will enjoy it. I hope you do too.

Rating:

★★★★★ 19 votes

Comments:

131 Comments

Serves:

6-8 people

Prep:

1 Hr 10 Min

Cook:

10 Min

Method:

No-Cook or Other

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Notes from the Test Kitchen:
We loved the freshness of this lemonade! The basil flavor is surprisingly light and really adds an earthy lift. This recipe is rather labor intensive, but it's WELL worth it. Make it as-is for the whole family, or experiment with it as a cocktail mixer.

Ingredients

1 c: water
3/4 c: sugar
1 c: fresh basil. thinly sliced
8 c: watermelon, cubed and seeded
1/2 c: fresh lemon juice - about 3 lemons

How to Make Basil-Infused Watermelon Lemonade

Step-by-Step

1Combine 1 cup of water and sugar in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in the basil. Let chill for 1 hour. Strain sugar mixture through a sieve over a bowl, and discard basil.
2Place watermelon in a blender; process until smooth.
3Pour watermelon puree through a fine sieve into a large bowl, reserving liquid; discard solids. Combine watermelon liquid, sugar mixture, and juice in a pitcher; chill.
4Garnish with fresh lemon slices and basil sprigs and serve!

VARIATION: Add about 8 ice cubes to the watermelon before blending. Do not strain when done. The result is more like a frozen lemonade or virgin margarita.