I am excited to share my first Recipe ReDux post with you all. Recipe ReDux is the first and only recipe challenge group founded by registered dietitians. Each month I will be creating a recipe based on the month’s theme. I was so excited to start off the first Recipe ReDux by making a summer beverage.
It all started with fresh picked blueberries from Tangerini’s Spring Street Farm.
That gave me the inspiration to make this summer beverage:
Blueberry Basil Lemonade Fizz
Makes 1 pitcher
You will need:
8 lemons
2 cups blueberries
3/4 cup sugar
1 small bunch basil (approx 24 large basil leaves)
2 L sparkling water
Optional 2 lemons for garnish
Squeeze 8 lemons for lemon juice. Using an immersion blender, blend blueberries, lemon juice, sugar, and basil until blended well. Add juice to pitcher and fill with 2L sparkling water. Optional: Use 1 lemon to add lemon slices to pitcher. Use the remaining lemon for garnish on glasses.
For a refreshing summer cocktail, add 1.5 oz vodka per drink.
While drinking, it is appropriate to let out a satisfying ahhhh.
This drink is perfectly refreshing for the summer. The blueberries and basil pair well together and are in season this time of year. Making this beverage was my first time using an immersion blender and it was definitely worth the investment. It blended everything very well.
The blueberry basil lemonade fizz quenched my thirst and desire to taste those fresh local blueberries after a long day of berry picking.
This summer drink would be a big hit at your next summer BBQ or party!
Be sure to check out some of the other delicious Recipe ReDux summer beverage recipes:
- Gretchen, kumquat Ginger Ale
- Dr. Barb, Nutrition Budgeteer Triple Cherry Chiller
- Carlene Helble, Carlene’s Figments Mint Berry Seltzer
- Kara Lydon, Peace, Love, and Food Blueberry Basil Lemonade Fizz
- Deanna Segrave-Daly, Teaspoon of Spice Cantaloupe Basil Aqua Fresca Fizz
- Jessica Fishman Levinson, Nutritioulicious Blueberry Basil Cooler
- Marie Spano, Performance Nutrition Post-Workout Power Smoothie
- Elizabeth Jarrard, Don’t White Sugar-Coat It Southern Blackberry Smash
- Emily Greenfield, The Nutriscientist Apple, pear and strawberry smoothie with Chia
- Kristen Bourque- Swanky Dietitian Fresh Fruit and Club Soda Cooler
- Regan Jones – The Professional Palate Berry-Lime Bubbly
- Kat Lynch – Eating the Week Sparkling melon fizz – nice & naughty
- Lisa @ Healthful Sense Berry Refreshing Chia Seed Smoothie
- EA Stewart-The Spicy RD Gingery Peach Float
- Alysa Bajenaru – Inspired RD Blackberry Banana Swirl
- Ann Dunaway Teh, Eat to Nourish, Energize & Flourish Pregnancy Mocktails
- Yuri – Chef Pandita Green Tea Ginger Limeade with Chia Seeds
- Karman Meyer-Nutrition Adventures Orange-Mint Iced Green Tea
- Cherie Schetselaar-Grain Crazy Mango Strawberry Smoothie
- Emma Stirling – The Scoop on Nutrition Recipe Redux Tangelo-ade
- Carrie Miller, Nutrition Know How, 12 Smoothie Recipes to Beat the Heat
- Rebecca Scritchfield – #MeFirst Banana Split Smoothie
- Alexandra Caspero- Delicious Knowledge Strawberry Splash Mojito
- Liz Weiss & Janice Newell Bissex — Meal Makeover Moms’ Kitchen Pint-Size Pina Colada
- Danielle Omar — Food Confidence RD Almond Iced-Coffee Latte
Cheers!
Peace, love, and food,
Kara
What is your favorite summer beverage?
Kara, glad to see another fizzy basil drink fan
The color on this is fantastic; will definitely try your recipe.
By: eatingtheweek on July 21, 2011
at 5:20 am
This looks amazing!! i love basil lemonade and the addition of blueberries makes it perfect!
By: Elizabeth Jarrard on July 21, 2011
at 7:32 am
Looks fabulous! I will have to try that as a different spin on my blueberry basil cooler. Great minds think alike
By: nutritioulicious on July 21, 2011
at 8:20 am
Ahh, got to love basil in a summer drink! So glad to have on board with Recipe ReDux!
By: Deanna on July 21, 2011
at 9:19 am
What a beautiful color. I’ve got all the ingredients needed to try this. I’m growing basil (more than I can ever eat) in my vegetable garden and recently bought 6 pints of blueberries on sale for $6.99. This sounds like a real winner.
By: Dr Barb, the Nutrition Budgeteer on July 21, 2011
at 9:46 am
I love everything about this drink! Thanks for the recipe, I will be experimenting this weekend with my Vitamix!
By: Danielle Omar on July 21, 2011
at 1:06 pm
Look great! I am always looking for new ways to use my overflowing basil plant- thanks!
By: Delicious Knowledge on July 21, 2011
at 3:26 pm
Lovely color! Your comment reminded me of my cousin, when he was little he would say a loud “AAHHH” every time he took a sip of his cup
By: Yuri on July 21, 2011
at 4:50 pm
Wow…looks great! Can’t wait to try this!
By: Nutrition Adventures on July 21, 2011
at 6:33 pm
Beautiful drink and all the flavors sound delicious too! Love that you picked your own blueberries!
By: EA Stewart on July 21, 2011
at 10:41 pm
This looks delicious! I Love the addition of basil. I have been seeing it popping up a lot in drinks lately. So refreshing!
By: Kristen @ Swanky Dietitian on July 22, 2011
at 10:27 am
What a great combo of blueberries, lemon and basil!! Something I’ve gotta try
By: Lisa @ Healthful Sense on July 22, 2011
at 11:03 am
Love, love basil and blueberries. But pun nets are $8 each at the moment as it’s winter in Australia and my basil bush is looking a little sad and woody. Can’t wait for Summer to try.
By: Emma Stirling on July 22, 2011
at 9:17 pm
This looks awesome! I’ll confess to never really having tried many herbs, other than mint, in beverages. But I have basil overload in my garden, so this sounds like the perfect option. So glad to have you participating in The ReDux!
By: Regan Jones, RD on July 24, 2011
at 6:00 am