Winters in India are synonomis for a lot of things, but my all-time favourite remains arrival of the luscious, juicy, red strawberries! Well if you are trying to guess the reason for my elation…, its simple. I’ve just received my first box of these awesome mouth-watering berries and can hardly wait to churn out those recipes really close to my heart… so friends in case you find them a little overwhelming please bear with me!
This recipe is a great way to spruce up the regular ‘Nimbu Pani’ or lemonade as we call it. The addition of chopped or muddled strawberries packs this otherwise beaten downNimbu Pani with tons of vitamins, fibre, antioxidants and gives it a beautiful hint of the red colour too!
Strawberries being a low-calorie fruit make this drink a perfect melange of “flavour &health”. Still, want to cut down on your calories intake … Just substitute the sugar mentioned in the recipe with honey or stevia… Even better, just avoid the additional sweating like I do by removing the sugar altogether!
For the extreme healthconscious…, Basil leaves are known to ease inflammation and reduce stress and anxiety, and the lemon juice aids in making your body alkaline. (An acidic body is one of the primary reasons for a lot of ailments).
With all these multiple health benefits I’ve surely found my perfect healthy refreshing cooler!. Those looking for a little Rock & Roll, just add generous amounts of Gin or vodka and add it to your cocktail menu!
Cheers!!!
Strawberry Basil Lemonade |
|
| Course | Drinks |
| Servings | 3 glasses |
| Preparation Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook time | – |
Ingredients for Strawberry Basil Lemonade(1 cup = 250 ml), (1 tsp = 5 ml) |
|
| 2 Nos. | Lemons |
| 6-7 Tsp | Sugar (depends on the sweetness you desire) |
| 2 glasses | Water |
| 5-6 Nos. | Big strawberries hulled and chopped |
| 4-5 Nos. | Basil leaves shredded |
| 1 glass | Soda |
| 60 ml. | Vodka or gin (optional) |
| Crushed ice | To serve |
Instructions for Strawberry Basil Lemonade |
|
| 1. | Juice the lemons into a large jug. |
| 2. | Stir in the sugar and water along with the lemon juice. Mix until sugar is dissolved. |
| 3. | Roughly chop the strawberries and shred the basil leaves. Add it to the lemonade. |
| 4. | Pour into the glasses until half full. Top with the bubbling soda. |
| 5. |
Garnish with shredded basil leaves and crushed ice. |
Tips: |
|
| 1. |
The addition of gin or vodka is entirely optional. |
| 2. |
You could make the same minus soda. Substitute the quantity of soda with water accordingly. In case of adding soda, mix it in just at the time of serving to ensure it fizzes. |
