Nitrate & Nitrite Free Strawberry Basil Agua Fresca
Fresh strawberries, bright lime juice, and fragrant basil come together in a blender to create a drink that tastes like summer in a glass. The combination of sweet fruit and herbal basil is unexpected but completely addictive — the kind of thing you'll want to make every weekend from June through August. Because this recipe is built entirely from whole, unprocessed ingredients, there's no need to scrutinize labels for hidden preservatives or curing agents the way you might with packaged juices or flavored drinks. Maple syrup steps in as a gentle, natural sweetener that lets the strawberries stay front and center. A quick pass through a fine-mesh strainer gives the finished drink a silky, restaurant-quality texture without any fuss. Serve it over ice with a few lime slices and a sprig of basil, and it looks as good as it tastes.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 3 cups cold water
- 2 tbsp maple syrup, plus more to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 1 lime)
- 8 large fresh basil leaves
- ⅛ tsp fine salt
For serving
- ice, for serving
- lime slices, for serving (optional)
- fresh basil sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the strawberries, water, maple syrup, lime juice, basil leaves, and salt in a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 45 seconds.
- 2
Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large pitcher. Pour the blended mixture through the strainer, pressing gently on the solids with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible, then discard the solids.
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