Step by step

Method

4 steps

1. 1

   Add 1 cup of the cold water, 1 cup hulled strawberries (fresh or thawed frozen), and ¾ cup granulated sugar to a blender. Blend until completely smooth and no berry chunks remain, 20–30 seconds.

2. 2

   Pour into a large pitcher. Stir in ¾ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4–5 lemons) and the remaining 2 cups cold water until the color is even.

3. 3

   Taste. Add a spoonful of sugar if it's too tart, or a splash more lemon if it's too sweet. The drink should taste bright lemon first with ripe strawberry behind it.

4. 4

   Serve over ice with lemon slices. Chill leftovers up to a day; stir before pouring — the strawberry pulp settles. You want a cold strawberry lemonade that tastes like tart lemon with ripe berry — not pink sugar water or a pitcher of seeds and pulp sitting on the bottom.