On a hot summer day, there is nothing better than an ice lemon fresh. Of course, today you can find any drinks on sale, but they can not be compared with homemade drinks. Cooking fresh will allow you to get a much better taste, as well as use any fillers as you wish.
Lemon juice is a great base for other flavors. Many people like the combination of fruits and herbs such as peach-thyme and blackberry-sage. And, of course, for sweetness it is better to use honey, which is the most useful sweetener. The calorie content of lemon juice is only 22 kcal per 100 grams, so you can not worry about the figure.
How to make lemon fresh?
Lemon juice is an excellent component for making cocktails, soft drinks and mixed fresh. It is considered extremely useful. In folk medicine, it is used to treat cough and sore throat. True, people with gastrointestinal disease should use it with caution.
It doesn’t matter what you use lemon juice for, it is easy to make it - for this you need only 3 ingredients: lemons, sugar and water.
How to make freshly squeezed lemon juice?
Having performed some simple steps, you can prepare the juice, which will then be used for any purpose. How to make lemon fresh?
First of all, find a suitable extrusion tool. You can do this manually using a citrus juicer or a food processor with a juicer function.
Cut the lemons in half. Squeeze the juice from them into a bowl or cup. Make sure you get all of each half. Add some sugar and water. Lemon fresh is ready, you can start preparing drinks based on it.
Sweetened Lemon Juice
The drink is suitable for drinking in its pure form. You can make lemonade based on it. The recipe for fresh lemon juice is simple. Pour freshly squeezed juice into a cup or glass, add half a teaspoon of tea sugar, mix until dissolved. Everything, the drink is ready. If you want, add some water to reduce acid.
Juice from oranges and lemons
In addition, you can make orange-lemon fresh. Natural juice with the addition of a small amount of sugar will be appreciated by everyone. For him you need:
- 3-4 oranges of normal size;
- half a lemon;
- 2-3 tbsp. l sugar (to your taste).
Peel the oranges and add the pulp to the blender. Alternatively, you can use a manual juicer so that the drink is immediately free from impurities of films or seeds. Strain the mashed potatoes through a sieve or mesh to remove solid fibers. Squeeze the required amount of juice from the lemon and pour sugar. Chill, add ice cubes before serving.
Do not make the drink in advance - a maximum of 30 minutes before serving. Add ice cubes just before serving, otherwise the juice will become too diluted. Adjust the proportion of orange and lemon to your taste.
How can I make drinks based on lemon juice?
As noted above, the benefits of fresh lemon juice are not in doubt. But since the drink has a too tart and sour taste, it is customary to mix it with other components. Below are some interesting lemon juice recipes that are healthy and refreshing.
Classic Lemonade Recipe
This is the perfect homemade lemonade based on lemon fresh with balanced sweetness and acid. It will require the following:
- a glass of fresh juice (10 to 12 lemons);
- half a glass of sugar;
- a pinch of salt;
- 3 cups cold water;
- a few pieces of ice.
Mix or whisk the juice and sugar until the latter is completely dissolved (how to make lemon fresh at home - read above). Add salt and water and mix. Pour into a carafe with ice. Serve in ice-filled glasses.
Honey and basil drink
This simple lemonade combines the aroma of fresh basil and the sweetness of honey. You will need:
- 1 cup lemon fresh;
- half a glass of honey;
- 2 cups of loosely packed basil leaves;
- a pinch of salt;
- 3 cups cold water;
- pieces of ice;
- basil leaves for decoration.
Beat lemon juice, honey, basil leaves and salt in a blender. Mix at high speed until smooth for about 1 minute. Strain through a strainer into a jug. Remove solid particles. Pour in cold water, stir until smooth, add ice. Serve in chilled glasses decorated with basil leaves.
Ginger lemonade
This is a tart and refreshing drink, reminiscent of gingerbread in flavor. For him you need:
- a piece of ginger 5 cm long, peeled and cut into small pieces;
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice;
- half a glass of sugar;
- a pinch of salt;
- 1 cup of cold water;
- 2 glasses of plain sparkling water;
- pieces of ice.
Combine ginger, lemon juice , sugar, salt and water in a blender. Mix at high speed for one minute. Strain through a strainer into a deep vessel. Add sparkling water and ice, mix thoroughly. Serve immediately in glasses filled with ice.
Condensed Lemonade
This Brazilian-style drink is made with fresh lemon juice and condensed milk. This is a thicker and sweeter version of lemonade, which may seem unusual for some. You will need;
- half a glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice;
- 3/4 cup condensed milk;
- a pinch of salt;
- 3 cups cold water;
- ice cubes.
Combine the lemon juice, condensed milk, salt and water in a blender until smooth and frothy for about 30 seconds. Pour into a jug, add ice. Serve immediately.
Raspberry Lemon Fresh
This is a delicate and aromatic drink that includes two healthy natural juices. For him you will need:
- 500 grams of raspberries;
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice;
- half a glass of sugar;
- a pinch of salt;
- 3 cups cold water;
- some ice;
- whole large raspberries and lemon slices.
Mix raspberries, lemon juice, sugar and salt in a blender at high speed until a uniform mass is obtained. Strain through a strainer into a deep vessel. Remove solid particles. Add cold water, whisk lightly with a whisk, add ice. Serve in ice-filled glasses decorated with raspberries and lemon slices.
Lychee and Lemon Drink
Sweet fresh lychee in this drink is perfectly complemented by hot Thai chili and tart lemon juice. Thanks to this combination, a balanced refreshing lemonade is obtained. You will need:
- 500 grams of lychee, peeled and without skin;
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice;
- 3/4 cup sugar;
- a pinch of salt;
- half of fine red Thai chili;
- 3 cups cold water;
- enough ice cubes.
Combine 1 cup lychee pulp, lemon juice, sugar, salt and Thai chili in a blender. Mix at high speed until smooth for about 1 minute. Strain through a strainer. Remove solid particles. Add cold water and mix thoroughly. Grind the remaining lychee flesh and place in a container with a drink. Put ice. Serve in ice-filled glasses decorated with whole chili peppers.
Blackberry and Sage Lemonade
Many people think of sage as a medicinal plant, but in fact its camphoric and slightly refreshing aroma goes well with this sweet drink made from blackberry and lemon. You need the following:
- 500 grams of blackberry;
- a glass of fresh lemon;
- half a glass of sugar;
- a pinch of salt;
- a bunch of fresh sage;
- 3 cups cold water;
- ice cubes;
- Extra blackberry and sage leaves.
Mix blackberry, lemon juice, sugar and salt in a blender bowl at high speed for about 1 minute. Put the sage leaves on the bottom of a deep vessel and remember with a wooden spoon. Pass the blackberry puree through a thin strainer. Remove solid particles. Pour in cold water, stir well, put ice. Serve in ice-filled glasses decorated with blackberries and sage leaves.
Peach and Thyme Lemonade
This thick, aromatic and foamy peach-based lemonade is slightly flavored with thyme. It can be used both independently and as a base for alcoholic cocktails. You will need the following:
- 3 fresh peaches, coarsely chopped;
- 1 cup fresh lemon;
- 3/4 cup sugar;
- some salt;
- a bunch of thyme;
- 3 cups cold water;
- some ice;
- peach slices and thyme leaves for decoration.
Mix peaches, lemon juice, sugar and salt in a blender. Whisk at high speed for one minute. Put thyme on the bottom of a deep vessel and crush gently. Strain the mixture from the blender through a sieve. Add cold water, mix, put pieces of ice. Serve in glasses filled with ice, garnishing the drink with peach slices and thyme leaves.