Strawberry-Thyme Lemonade! Sweet strawberries, take the pucker out of fresh-squeezed lemon juice in this delicious version of classic lemonade. The addition of homemade thyme-infused simple syrup adds a delightfully herbaceous note. It's spring in a glass!
Ah, spring. A time of "thawing out" for most... unless you live in my neck of the woods, where it's a time for sweat trickling down into places that shall not be named.
I took Cole to a community "Touch-a-Truck" event last Saturday, and while the weather felt peachy whenever we stood in a shady spot, I could already feel that scorching summer sunshine starting to show its face again. It was HOT.
As you can imagine, things in my kitchen quickly begin to reflect the temperature outside. Since the last thing I wanted to do after spending the morning in the heat was raise the temps inside, I decided to cool down with this Strawberry-Thyme Lemonade.
Why strawberry-thyme? Because strawberries looked too good to pass up during my last trip to the grocery store, and thyme adds a subtle hint of herbaceous flavor that adds an intriguing twist to an old classic.
The thyme element comes from making a homemade thyme simple syrup to sweeten the lemonade. And "simple" it is! You just bring equal parts water and sugar to a boil until the sugar dissolves, then steep some fresh thyme in the hot mixture to let it infuse the syrup. If thyme isn't your thing, you can use just about any herb you like -- I've made basil, rosemary and mint versions in the past, but you don't have to stop at herbs to create interesting flavors. Homemade simple syrups are such an easy way to add extra pizzazz to everything from cocktails to pound cake!
This Strawberry-Thyme Lemonade makes a fantastic springtime drink for parties, showers, Mother's Day and beyond. {I mean, that color! Showstopper.} Add sparkling water to add some effervescence or a shot of your favorite spirit to turn it into a cocktail.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be over here cooling down while you're warming up! Cheers to springtime!
Strawberry-Thyme Lemonade
Ingredients
For Thyme Simple Syrup:
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ sugar
- Small bunch of fresh thyme sprigs {about 5-6}
For Lemonade:
- 5 ounces strawberries hulled
- ⅔ cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- Thyme Simple Syrup to taste {I added about 3 tablespoons to mine}
- 2-3 cups water*
Instructions
- Make Thyme Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar and bring to a boil. Let boil for about 1 minute until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from heat and immediately add thyme sprigs. Allow to steep for 8-10 minutes. Discard thyme sprigs.
- Meanwhile, blend strawberries, lemon juice and about a cup of water in a food processor or blender until completely smooth. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer and strain into a container with a spout or the pitcher you will serve it in, pressing on solids. Discard any pulp.
- Stir in another 1-2 cups of water and simple syrup to taste {depending on how sweet/tart/concentrated you like your lemonade}.
- Refrigerate until cold and serve over ice. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and strawberry or lemon slice if desired.
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