Pioneer Woman Blueberry-Basil Limeade

This blueberry-basil limeade is made with fresh lime juice, a basil-steeped simple syrup, and whole blueberries. It’s tart, herbal, and cooling, one of the prettiest drinks for a hot day. It takes about 45 minutes, plus chilling, and serves 6 to 8.

The basil flavor comes from steeping the sprigs in the warm simple syrup. You dissolve the sugar in water, drop the basil in off the heat, and let it sit 30 minutes before straining it out. That pulls the herbal note without any bitterness.

Chill the limeade for at least 4 hours before serving. That gives the lime and basil time to blend and gets it cold all the way through. The whole blueberries go in at the end, floating in the pitcher for color.

Pioneer Woman Blueberry-Basil Limeade

Author: Hamdi Saidani Cuisine:American Courses:Blueberry Desserts

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 15 minutesCook time: 5 minutesRest time: minutesTotal time: 45 minutesCooking Temp: CServings:6 servingsEstimated Cost: $Calories:130 kcal Best Season:Summer

Description

This blueberry-basil limeade blends fresh lime juice with a basil-steeped syrup and whole blueberries. A tart, herbal, refreshing drink that’s as pretty as it is cooling.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
  
• 3 large sprigs fresh basil, plus leaves for garnish
  
• 1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice (from about 12 limes)
  
• 1 (6 ounce) container blueberries

Instructions

1. Heat the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Add the 3 basil sprigs, remove from the heat, and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain into a pitcher, discarding the basil. Stir in the lime juice and 4 cups cold water, then chill at least 4 hours or until ready to serve.
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2. Add the blueberries to the pitcher. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with basil leaves

FAQs

How does the basil flavor get into the drink?

You steep fresh basil sprigs in the warm simple syrup off the heat for 30 minutes, then strain them out. That draws the herbal flavor into the syrup gently, without turning it bitter the way boiling the basil would.

Why chill it for 4 hours?

The chill time lets the lime and basil flavors settle and blend, and gets the limeade cold all the way through before it hits the ice. Serve it too soon and the flavors taste sharp and unmixed.

When do I add the blueberries?

At the very end, after chilling. They go into the pitcher whole, floating for color and a bit of fruit in each glass. You can muddle a few first if you want the berry flavor to run through the drink.

Can I make it a cocktail?

Yes. Add a shot of vodka, gin, or white rum to each glass. For a rum drink with mint and lime already built in, try my [INTERLINK 1: Blueberry Mojitos].

What other blueberry drinks can I make?

Plenty. For a lemon version instead of lime, try my [INTERLINK 2: Blueberry Lemonade], or blend the berries into a creamy [INTERLINK 3: Blueberry Yogurt Smoothie].