Vegetarian Chilled Cucumber Mint Lemonade
There is something genuinely refreshing about a homemade lemonade that goes beyond the basic pitcher of sugar and citrus. This version layers fresh cucumber juice, bright lemon, and a fragrant mint simple syrup made with maple syrup instead of refined white sugar, giving it a subtly complex sweetness that store-bought drinks just can't touch. The cucumber gets blended and strained so you get all of that cool, clean flavor without any pulpy texture — just a silky, pale green drink that looks as good as it tastes. Steeping fresh mint leaves directly into the warm maple syrup pulls out every bit of herbal fragrance before it ever hits the pitcher. Everything comes together in one blender and one saucepan, making the process feel effortless even when the result looks impressively put-together. Served over ice with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint, it's the kind of drink you'd happily set out for guests or sip solo on a hot afternoon.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the mint simple syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
For the lemonade
- 1 medium english cucumber (about 10 oz), peeled and roughly chopped
- ¾ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4–5 lemons)
- 2 cups cold water
For serving
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 4 thin lemon slices (optional)
- 4 fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the 1/2 cup water and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the maple syrup fully dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add the mint leaves, and let steep for 10 minutes, until the syrup is fragrant and pale green. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl or measuring cup, pressing the leaves to extract as much liquid as possible; discard the solids. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.
- 2
Place the chopped cucumber in a blender with 1/2 cup of the cold water and blend on high until completely smooth, about 30 seconds. Strain the cucumber purée through the fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher, pressing firmly with a spoon to extract all the juice; discard the pulp.
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