Ginger Lemonade (3 ingredients)
Homemade ginger lemonade is fantastic cold or hot, so it works for every season. Fresh ginger adds a kick to this old-fashioned classic. This recipe uses fresh ingredients and can be adjusted for sweetness and sourness.
Servings 10 servings
Ingredients
Lemon ginger syrup:
- 4 large lemons
- 2 cups water
- 5 or 6 slices fresh ginger
- 1 and ½ cups sugar
- a few sprigs of fresh mint optional
Lemonade:
- 2 cups cold water or to taste
- 6 to 8 tablespoons syrup
- 2 slices fresh lemon to serve
- mint leaves optional, for garnish
Instructions
For the ginger simple syrup:
- Using a paring knife or a vegetable peeler, peel 4 large lemons. Try to peel as little white part as possible. Set aside.
- Squeeze the juice from the peeled lemons.
- Put the lemon juice, lemon peel, 5 or 6 slices fresh ginger, 1 and ½ cups sugar and a few sprigs of fresh mint (if using) in a medium saucepan. Pour in 2 cups water.
- Place on the stove at medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to the lowest setting and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and cool completely. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a jar or another type of glass container.
- Refrigerate until cold. Keep refrigerated if making ahead of time.
Make the lemonade:
- Divide 6 to 8 tablespoons syrup and 2 slices fresh lemon among 2 glasses.
- Add a few cubes of ice and 1 cup cold water into each glass. Stir to mix. Taste and adjust with more syrup to your liking.
- Garnish with mint leaves if you want to and serve. You can also fill a pitcher with lemonade, using half to 1 cup of syrup and going from there.
Notes
Ginger: If it's very fresh and has thin skin, you don't have to peel it. You be the judge of that.
Taste and adjust: this is very important. Use more or less syrup to adjust to your liking.
Ginger syrup: it can be made ahead and kept refrigerated for a few weeks.
