Strawberry-Ginger Limeade

By Millie Peartree

Published June 10, 2024

  • David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
15 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Rating
4(127)
Comments
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Red drinks are central to Juneteenth, as the color red represents the blood shed by enslaved people. Strawberry soda is commonly served, but this punch builds on that tradition, adding honey for its sweet distinct flavor, lime juice and mint for freshness, and ginger for a fiery warmth. And it’s a great way to use up slightly overripe strawberries. (It’s better to use overripe berries, since underripe ones can have bitter notes.) Serve over ice with a twist of lime for an extra burst of flavor.

Featured in: 5 Festive Recipes for a Juneteenth Feast

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Ingredients

Yield:8 servings

  • 1 tablespoon zest and 1 ½ cups juice from 12 to 14 large limes, plus 1 for garnishing

  • ¾ cup honey

  • 1 (3-inch) piece ginger, peeled and chopped

  • 1 cup mint leaves picked from 1 bunch

  • 1 pint strawberries, hulled and quartered

  • Ice, for serving

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

31 grams carbs; 118 calories; 2 grams fiber; 7 milligrams sodium; 1 gram protein; 28 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large pitcher, combine lime juice, honey and 4 cups water.

  2. Step 2

    To a blender or food processor, add ginger, ½ the mint leaves, all the zest and ½ cup water, and blend until smooth. Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain the mixture into the pitcher, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible.

  3. Step 3

    In the same blender or food processor (no need to clean), add strawberries and ½ cup water. Blend until smooth and strain into the pitcher. Stir and chill until ready to serve.

  4. Step 4

    To serve, taste for sweetness and adjust, if needed. Muddle remaining mint leaves in glasses, add ice and pour limeade over. Garnish with slices of lime.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
127 user ratings
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Comments

CFrance

And add gin!

RSB56

IF I were to make this again (questionable), I would substitute sugar for the honey. In spite of all the other ingredients, the strongest taste in this drink was the honey. The whole family turned thumbs down on the taste because of the honey.

Bougeotte

Taking my inspiration from this to plan ahead on a hot Juneteenth eve: an ounce or two of cooled concentrated Red Zinger tea (first ingredients hibiscus rosehips) steeped with fresh ginger root, half an ounce of ginger liqueur, an ounce of gin, fresh lime juice, stevia to taste, and back into the fridge to chill so I don't have to ice it down later when I top it with Nixie's lime ginger seltzer. Scale up if you're feeling hospitable.

Janne

Would recommend filling half the glass with the limeade and other half with soda water. That way it is more refreshing and not too sweet!

Allison Walter

Instead of the honey, I used homemade strawberry syrup. Recipe is ridiculously easy. In a jar, I put the strawberry tops cut to prepare for another dish, added the weight of the tops in sugar, closed the lid and set in the fridge. Every day for about four days, I gave the jar a few good shakes. In the fourth day, I strained out the syrup, pressed the tops down to get any residual liquid, and tried not to drink the gorgeous ruby syrup in the jar. Straining gets rid of the seeds. It is sweet, obviously, but the syrup has that nostalgic taste of strawberries I remember as a little girl. Good in any drink, limeade or cocktail.

Spike

Perfect as written. Excellent balance of flavors (I only had 1 1/4 cups of lime but hey) zested away, added honey and strained strained strained. Fresh ginger, lime and berries with mint and honey. Perfect summer drink! While it’s tasty with gin it’s better on its own.

Spike

@Spike The more I think about the drink, Juneteenth, and red drinks to remind of blood, encouraging readers to lean in to this a rich and intense goodness instead of making it nicer. Millie Peartree created a brilliant cocktail, gin or no.

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