Carrageenan Free Lemon-Basil Orange Carrot Cooler
Bright citrus, earthy carrot, and a whisper of fresh basil come together in this vibrant chilled drink that tastes like sunshine in a glass. Grated ginger and a pinch of turmeric give it a gentle warmth and a gorgeous golden hue, while honey rounds out the tartness from the lemon and orange without overpowering anything. Many store-bought juices and flavored drinks sneak in thickeners and stabilizers — carrageenan being one of the most common — so blending your own from whole ingredients is the cleanest way to go. Everything here is exactly what it looks like: real fruit, real vegetables, and nothing hiding in the fine print. The straining step is worth the extra minute because it gives you a silky-smooth pour rather than a chunky sip, and pressing the pulp through a fine-mesh strainer means you capture every drop of flavor. Served over ice with an orange slice and a sprig of basil, it looks genuinely impressive for something that comes together in a blender. It's the kind of refreshing drink you'll want to make on repeat all summer long.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 cup fresh orange juice (from about 2 large oranges)
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 1 tbsp honey
- 8 fresh basil leaves
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 cup ice cubes
For serving
- 2 thin orange slices (optional)
- 2 fresh basil sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Add the chopped carrots, orange juice, lemon juice, cold water, grated ginger, honey, basil leaves, and turmeric to a blender. Blend on high for 60–90 seconds until completely smooth and no large carrot pieces remain.
- 2
Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large measuring cup or bowl. Pour the blended mixture through the strainer, pressing on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the pulp.
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