Fresh Cucumber Lemonade

Who doesn’t like lemonade on a boiling summer day? Do you make it often or just prefer something store bought? It might seem the easiest way, but definitely not the tastiest! Nothing could be better for refreshment than a big pitcher of Fresh Cucumber Lemonade because it is homemade and it contains the most refreshing foods of the season; cucumber, lemon and mint. They pair wonderfully to make this amazing yet easy beverage. If you’d love to have a dessert with your lemonade, it must be a slice of a light Lemon Custard Cake.

Lemonade is a classic favorite in Turkey as it is in most Middle Eastern countries. I wanted to go a little further from the classic version, which is based on lemon and no other flavors. The most common flavor to pair with lemon in this summer drink is fresh mint. You can toss in a few sprigs of mint in your lemonade at a cafe, and that’s it. But why not try new flavors? I’ve tried ginger, strawberry and marjoram so far and they all made perfect combination! It’s time for cucumber now!

The flavors in this cucumber lemonade are very well blended. I grated the cucumbers into a bowl and pounded the fresh mint sprigs using a mortar and a pestle. Then I combined them in a cheese cloth and squeezed their juice into a larger bowl. You will get a lovely green color. Then you combine this juice with a syrup you prepare with lemon. I use 5 tablespoons sugar, but you can use more or less to your taste.

Cucumber lemonade is such a refreshing drink that you will be hooked once you try. I’m sure it will be your ultimate summer beverage. You can make it in large quantity, maybe overnight to chill it for long hours and relish the following day. A large glass of cucumber lemonade at breakfast will definitely zing-up your mornings!

Can we call this a skinny drink? Yes if you leave the sugar out. Do you know what else you can use? A little salt makes it a delightlful salty drink.

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Fresh Cucumber Lemonade

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

A delightful lemonade flavored with cucumber, lemon zest and fresh mint.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 4

Ingredients

• 2 cucumbers
• ¼ bunch fresh mint
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest, grated
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 4 cups hot water
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• For garnish:
• ½ cup ice cubes
• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
• Fresh mint leaves

Instructions

1. Wash the cucumbers very well.
2. Leave their skin on and grate them in a bowl.
3. Pound the mint leaves and lemon zest in a mortar and toss in the bowl.
4. Stir with a spoon and transfer them in a piece of cheese cloth.
5. Squeeze the juice into the bowl. Set aside. You can use a blender instead, but the flavors stand out with this method.
6. Mix sugar and lemon juice in hot water until sugar dissolves.
7. Combine this syrup with cucumber juice flavored with lemon zest and mint.
8. Chill it at least for an hour and serve with ice cubes, mint leaves and cucumber slices.