Description
A crisp, cooling, and refreshing summer drink made with just five simple ingredients: cucumber, mint, lemon, lime, and sugar. This easy-to-make lemonade is perfect for hot days and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large English or Persian cucumbers (about 600g)
- 1 large bunch fresh mint (about 1 cup packed, preferably spearmint)
- 4 large lemons (about 1 cup fresh juice)
- 3 large limes (about ½ cup fresh juice)
- 1 cup simple syrup (1 cup sugar dissolved in 1 cup water)
- 4 cups cold water
- Ice cubes
- Garnish: Extra mint sprigs, thin cucumber slices, lime wheels
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup by combining 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Heat over medium until dissolved, then cool completely.
- Wash cucumbers. If using regular cucumbers, peel them. Cut into chunks and place in a blender.
- Add mint leaves and 1 cup of cold water to the blender. Blend on high until smooth (30-60 seconds).
- Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large pitcher. Pour the cucumber-mint mixture through the strainer, pressing on the pulp to extract liquid. Discard pulp.
- Juice the lemons and limes. Add the lemon juice, lime juice, and cooled simple syrup to the pitcher with the cucumber liquid. Stir well.
- Add the remaining 4 cups of cold water. Stir and taste. Adjust sweetness or tartness as needed.
- Add a large bowl of ice to the pitcher.
- Garnish glasses with cucumber slices, lime wheels, and mint leaves. Pour lemonade over ice and serve immediately.
Notes
For best results, use cold ingredients. If using regular cucumbers, peel them to avoid bitterness. The drink is best served fresh but can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Do not freeze as the texture will change. For a sparkling version, replace still water with sparkling water just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 0.5
Keywords: cucumber mint lemonade, summer drink, refreshing beverage, healthy lemonade, 5-ingredient recipe, cold drink, hydrating drink