Can we talk about lemonade?
Actually. Proper question: can we talk about lemonade again and probably again and again after that?
Last week we experienced Beet Lemonade, all bright pink and sweet and totally showing off. Today it’s Blueberry Mint Lemonade, all deep and purple and tart… and totally showing off.
This lemonade comes together with exactly those fresh berries languishing in the back of your refrigerator. They’re getting wrinkly. You know the ones. Throw those little darlings in a blender with fresh mint, stems and all… and here we are, on the fantastic side of refreshment.
This recipe is again inspired by The Lemonade Cookbook because it’s lovely and I’m thirsty.
I used fresh blueberries for this lemonade. Frozen blueberries also work well, but there’s something kinda wonderful about using fresh berries when the season calls for it. I’ve found that this recipe works exceedingly well with fresh blueberries that are just past their prime, headed straight towards sad, wasted blueberries. Make ‘em juice!
Super fresh lemon juice. There are no substitutes. I’ve checked.
Into the blender we go with lemon juice, blueberries, fresh mint (and them stems never hurt anyone!), and sugar. Blend it up like the most tart smoothie ever to exist.
The blueberry lemon mint mixture is pressed through a fine mesh strainer (which will then be really annoying to clean but that’s ok), and the deep purple liquid is poured into a pitcher to join filtered water and be the best lemonade ever!
Well… it’s the best lemonade until I find another bonkers awesome lemonade combination! I’m thinking Cantaloupe Honey Lemonade might be up next!
Deep purple, perfectly sweet, and exactly tart! This lemonade is gulp-able. Just don’t spill it on your shirt. Pro tip.
Fresh Blueberry and Mint Lemonade
makes about 2 quarts
adapted from The Lemonade Cookbook
2 cups fresh blueberries (frozen will also work)
1 cup (or one big handful) mint leaves (a few stems are fine too), coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice
1 cup granulated sugar (you can add more sugar if you have a sweet tooth)
4 to 5 cups filtered water
In a blender add blueberries, mint, lemon juice, and granulated sugar. Blend until smooth and deep purple. The mixture will look a bit like a smoothie.
Pour mixture into a fine mesh strainer placed over a medium bowl. Use a spatula to press the liquid through the strainer leaving the blueberry pulp and fresh mint in the strainer. Discard the pulp. Pour the blueberry, mint, lemon juice into a pitcher and add water. Taste and add more water (or sugar?) according to your taste.
Serve chilled.
