Description
Enjoy a refreshing twist on classic lemonade with this Cucumber Lemonade. The combination of crisp cucumber and tangy lemon creates a revitalizing beverage perfect for hot days.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 small to medium cucumber (about 6–8 inches), peeled and chopped
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from approximately 5-6 large lemons)
- 2–3 cups cold water, divided
- Ice cubes
- Optional garnishes: cucumber slices, lemon slices, fresh mint leaves
Instructions
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Prepare the Simple Syrup:
- In a heat-safe container, combine 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Set aside to cool.
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Make the Cucumber Juice:
- Place the peeled and chopped cucumber into a blender along with 1 cup of cold water. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the cucumber puree through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl or pitcher, pressing the pulp to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the pulp. You should obtain approximately 1¼ cups of cucumber juice.
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Combine Ingredients:
- In a large pitcher, mix the freshly squeezed lemon juice, cucumber juice, and the cooled simple syrup.
- Add 1-2 cups of cold water to achieve your desired sweetness and flavor concentration. Stir well.
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Chill and Serve:
- Refrigerate the cucumber lemonade for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and to chill the beverage.
- Serve over ice, garnished with cucumber slices, lemon slices, and fresh mint leaves if desired.
Notes
- Adjusting Sweetness: Feel free to modify the amount of simple syrup to suit your taste preferences. Start with less and add more if needed.
- Herbal Infusion: For an added layer of flavor, consider infusing the simple syrup with fresh herbs like mint or basil. Simply add a handful of herbs to the hot simple syrup, let it steep until cooled, then strain out the herbs before mixing.
- Storage: Store any leftover lemonade in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir well before serving, as separation may occur.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: Approximately 103 kcal
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 1mg
- Fat: 0.2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.01g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.01g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 0.1g
- Protein: 0.1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg