Xanthan Gum Free Lemon-Basil Orange Carrot Cooler
Bright, citrusy, and just a little earthy, this blended drink is a genuinely refreshing way to get a serious hit of flavor from whole, real ingredients. Carrots, fresh-squeezed orange and lemon juice, ginger, and a handful of basil leaves all go straight into the blender — no powders, no stabilizers, no additives of any kind. That matters a lot for anyone navigating a sensitivity to thickening agents, because so many store-bought juices and smoothie blends quietly rely on them to achieve that silky texture. Here, straining the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve does all the work, giving you a beautifully smooth, clean cooler without anything extra. A touch of honey rounds out the tartness, and the turmeric adds a warm, golden depth that makes this feel like more than just a juice. Poured over ice and garnished with a fresh basil sprig and an orange slice, it looks as good as it tastes — the kind of drink you'd happily serve to guests without mentioning it's free of anything at all.
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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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