Instant minted lemonade

This is one of my favourite summertime drinks to make, needing only fresh lemons, fresh mint, water and a little sugar: made in seconds, it tastes much better than any of the artisan lemonades you can buy and can be made for a fraction of the cost of those!

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I use the whole of the lemons – pith, peel and all – which gives the most vibrant flavour. Besides, it makes this drink so quick to make, with no faffing about with preparing the lemons first!

I love drinking this just as it comes, especially with plenty of ice, but I sometimes like to mix it with a little sparkling water.

When life gives you lemons……

I make several litres of this lemonade each week and have a jug or two on standby in the fridge.

instant minted lemonade

I don’t tend to measure out the ingredients here: I just adjust the taste accordingly, adding more sugar or water if I think either is needed. But as a guide, go for about 1 tablespooon sugar (any type) and 400ml water per lemon.

Added extras!

I occasionally add extras ingredients to the lemonade, depending on how I feel at the time. Favourites include:

• a handful of fresh lemon balm
• a couple of stems of lemongrass
• a few strawberries or raspberries
• a knob of root ginger
• a little chilli
• passionfruit pulp
• a generous splash of vodka or gin!

The alcohol suggestion above takes this into simple cocktail territory: icy cold on a summer’s evening and bliss descends!

Of course, you can make an instant orangeade or limeade in the same way with fresh orange or lime.

Recipe: instant minted lemonade

instant minted lemonade

• 3 large lemons
• 3-4 tablespoons caster sugar (or use any type)
• 1.2 litres of water
• a few sprigs of fresh mint -leaves only

(1) Chop the lemon roughly and put in a food blender with the other ingredients. Blitz well and strain through a sieve into a jug or bowl.

(2) Push the pulp with a wooden spoon or spatula to extract as much liquid as you can and pour the lemonade into a jug. Done!

instant minted lemonade

Author: Philip

Finalist on Britain’s Best Home Cook (BBC Television 2018). Published recipe writer with a love of growing fruit & veg, cooking, teaching and eating good food. View all posts by Philip