Description
This Peach Lemonade Drink is a refreshing and vibrant summer beverage combining sweet, ripe peaches with tangy lemon juice. Perfectly balanced with sugar and served chilled over ice, it’s an ideal thirst quencher for hot days. Garnished with fresh peach slices and mint leaves, this homemade lemonade offers a delightful twist on a classic favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Peach Puree
- 4 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
Lemonade Base
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4-6 lemons)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 4 cups cold water
For Serving
- Ice cubes
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)
- Peach slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Wash Peaches: Wash the peaches thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or residue and ensure they are clean before preparation.
- Slice and Pit Peaches: Slice the peaches in half and carefully remove the pits to prepare them for blending.
- Slice Peaches: Cut the peach halves into smaller slices for easier and more efficient blending.
- Prepare for Blending: Place the sliced peaches into a blender. Optionally add a tablespoon of water to help achieve a smoother texture.
- Blend Peaches: Blend the peaches on high speed until smooth, approximately 30 seconds to one minute, ensuring a pure, consistent peach puree.
- Strain Peach Puree: Pour the peach puree through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl or pitcher, using a spatula to press and extract as much juice and flavor as possible while removing pulp and skin.
- Juice Lemons: Roll the lemons on the countertop to release juices, then squeeze to extract about 1 cup of fresh lemon juice.
- Strain Lemon Juice: Strain the lemon juice through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds and pulp, ensuring a smooth lemonade base.
- Mix Lemonade Base: In a separate pitcher, combine the lemon juice and granulated sugar, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved to form a sweet and tangy base.
- Add Water: Add the 4 cups of cold water to the pitcher and stir thoroughly to combine the ingredients evenly.
- Combine Peach Puree and Lemonade: Pour the strained peach puree into the pitcher with the lemonade base, scraping out any remaining puree from the strainer.
- Stir Mixture: Gently stir the peach puree and lemonade until fully incorporated for uniform flavor.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the peach lemonade and adjust the sweetness by adding more sugar if desired, or dilute with additional water if it tastes too tart.
- Chill: Cover the pitcher and refrigerate the peach lemonade for at least 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and chill thoroughly.
- Serve: Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the chilled peach lemonade over the ice, filling each glass about three-quarters full.
- Garnish: Garnish each glass with fresh peach slices and mint leaves, if desired, for a decorative and refreshing finish.
Notes
- Adjust the sugar quantity based on the sweetness of the peaches and personal preference.
- Straining the peach puree ensures a smooth texture without pulp or skin pieces.
- The lemonade base can be prepared in advance to save time before blending peaches.
- Use ripe peaches for optimal sweetness and flavor.
- Serve chilled for the best refreshing experience.
- Optional garnishes like fresh mint and peach slices enhance presentation and aroma.
