Ready for some good news? I’ve added a “print recipe” feature to this website! And to celebrate, I think we should sip some homemade limeade. It’s tart with fresh limes, and cool with fresh mint. A more refreshing summer beverage doesn’t exist.
Limeade is typically made by squeezing a bunch of limes, and adding the juice to a boiled sugar-and-water concoction known as “simple syrup.” But my version is infinitely easier. I let my electric blender do all of the work:
To start, grab 6 gorgeous limes…
Oh. I’m talking about common ‘Persian’ limes here — the kind most supermarkets sell. Persian limes were developed by John T. Bearss in 1895. They are seedless.
Now run out to the garden, and grab a big bunch of mint. Strip the leaves from the stems.
Throw the lime segments and mint leaves into the jar of your electric blender…
And add 1 cup super-fine sugar. Why super-fine? Because regular granulated sugar is gritty. You’d have to dissolve it in boiling water (the simple syrup I mentioned earlier) in order to use it in a cold beverage. Super-fine sugar dissolves instantly.
Add 2 cups water to the blender…
And let it roar at high speed until the limes and leaves are pulverized — 20-30 seconds.
Strain the pulp in a wire-mesh sieve set over a bowl.
Then pour the strained liquid — you’ll have about 2 cups — into a serving pitcher, add 4 cups water, and stir with a spoon.
Now taste the beverage. Is it too tart? Stir in extra (super-fine) sugar. Too strong? Stir in extra water. Chill thoroughly, or, if you are in a rush, just add ice cubes.
Drink as is. Or, for a spectacular cocktail, put some sliced up lime, chopped mint leaves, and ice in a drinking glass or mason jar.
And fill to the brim with your homemade limeade!
Folks, this isn’t just a cool, refreshing elixir. It’s a cocktail party waiting to happen.
And here, for your convenience, is a printable version of the above:
Cool, refreshing, and a cinch to make!
Ingredients
- 6 limes
- 1 bunch mint leaves
- 1 cup super-fine sugar
- 6 cups water
- Optional: vodka
- For garnish: slices of lime and chopped mint leaves
Instructions
- Cut the limes into quarters, and strip the mint leaves from their stems.
- Put the limes, mint, super-fine sugar, and 2 cups water into the jar of an electric blender. Blend at high speed until the limes are pulverized -- 20 to 30 seconds.
- Strain through a wire-mesh sieve set over a bowl. You'll end up with about 2 cups of strained liquid. Discard the contents of the sieve.
- Tip the strained liquid into a pitcher, and stir in the remaining 4 cups cold water. Taste carefully -- you might like to add more sugar or water. Chill thoroughly.
- To serve, put ice, lime slices, and chopped mint leaves in a drinking glass or mason jar. Add a jigger of vodka, if desired, and finish with the limeade. Sip through a straw.
Don’t miss anything at A Garden for the House…sign up for Kevin’s email updates!
Related Posts:
Roasted Radishes with Honey, Lemon, and Thyme
A Colorful Veggie Tian
French Blueberry Galette
Barbara T says
Your print “thingie” worked beautifully. So much easier; I love it.
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
Wow, really cool recipe! And so timely.
I love the mint photo.
I grow 5 kinds of mint, most in sunken pots. I know 4 of their names. The one in your photo looks like the one I grow whose name I don’t know.
Do you think it’s a Spearmint, or a Wintergreen, or do you refer to it by another name?
Thank you sweetie !!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Beverly – I think it’s spearmint — the mintiest of all mints!
Joy says
No super-fine sugar? Pulse the regular stuff in the blender a few times 7 you should be in business.
Mary in Iowa says
Love the new print format! This look so refreshing. Does using whole limes add bitterness from the pith?
I like to make simple syrup, toss in lots of mint, strain after it cools and keep on hand for… whatever. Freezes beautifully.
Kelly F says
That looks divine! I just adore the smell of limes…. Nice new butter too! Thank you, sir!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Mary- Surprisingly, no bitterness at all. Just pure deliciousness!
Susan Owens says
Hi Kevin,
Thanks so much for the print feature. I work on an iPad and printing your recipes was always a challenge. I love this new feature, and this recipe!
Carol Samsel says
Now this sounds so refreshing and love the new click and print option! May have to have some of these later today 🙂
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Susan and Carol – Glad you like the click-and-print!
John says
Thanks,, Kevin. This is a keeper.
I really like this Print option. Wonderful!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi John – If you get a chance, let me know how the limeade turns out for you!
Arlene Martinez says
Another great reward for gardening. Thanks for doing all the work on this one. Love the added ease of printing!
MonicaC says
Hi Kevin and thanks for all your great step by steps.
Would this work for lemonade also?
Thanks
Angie says
Kevin — thanks so much for this. I might have to try this, too, diluted with iced tea instead of water. It could save me a lot of money — the commercially bottled version I live is $2.50 a bottle!
Angie says
Kevin — thanks so much for this. I might have to try this, too, diluted with iced tea instead of water. It could save me a lot of money — the commercially bottled version I love is $2.50 a bottle!
Elizabeth Loeblich says
This sounds great! Love the new “print” feature. Thanks!
gloria says
Thanks for the new option! Makes it so easy to get your wonderful recipes-
I might have to have a party so that i can make this limeade and vodka will not be optional.
Deb Stover says
I keep simple syrup in my fridge in the summer for those who want to sweeten their iced tea or coffee, and always use it for lemonade, so I would for this as well. My first thought while reading your recipe was that this would make a fine mojito! Use rum instead of vodka and top with club soda for bubbles.
Speaking of vodka, I’ve found one called Tito’s that is gluten free and so smooth you won’t know it’s there. Highly recommend!
jean says
Hey Kevin,
Thanks for the print button, just made it so much easier to save and collect your wonderful recipes. Can’t wait to make some as it looks so refreshing on such a hot and humid day.
So when is your recipe book coming out? You keep teasing us with these wonderful recipes so we are all ready to buy your amazing cookbook when it is ready. Can’t wait.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Gloria – Limeade + vodka = a party!
Hi Deb Stover – I have Titos!
Hi Jean – My agent sent out the cookbook proposal in late May. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed.
Cindy says
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the print function! And the limeade recipe sounds fab!
Donna Mullen says
GREAT NEWS, the print recipe feature…Thanks so much….will make sharing much easier…
Sonja says
Perfect timing! Our local grocery store had limes 10/$1. I didn’t need that many – just one for the guacamole – but I bought 10 anyway. Now I know what to do with the rest! Must go get mint though. I live in an apartment and no yard to grow it. Love the print option! Thanks!
AllisonK says
LOVE the Print option–THANK YOU!!
This recipe looks to be pure genius–I would never have had the guts to throw in whole limes, worried that the pith would add too much bitterness. But I trust you–I will try it this afternoon! (I bought a bag of limes for another purpose, but am so intrigued by this–plus I LOVE LOVE LOVE limeade!–that I will divert them to this instead!)
I use so much citrus (especially limes!)–I must figure out how to grow my own citrus trees in Minnesota!!
Georgette says
Print thingy is working beautifully. I love lime and this recipe looks like it will hit the spot today. I will also add this to my growing collection of step by step recipes that I keep in a folder when I want to thumb through to find something for dinner, lunch, party, etc. Thanks for all you do Kevin.
Central Iowa Susan says
Kevin – my neighbor recently introduced me to limeade with good quality tequilla added for a refreshing adult beverage for the patio. Try substituting it for your vodka sometime!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Central Iowa Susan – Your tequila idea sounds muy bueno. Will try!
Helen says
Good on you for adding the print feature. Even more fun to make your recipes.
Limeade sounds amazing.
Claudia S says
This looks good, gonna try it today! Love the print feature!
Judy Hines says
Looks scrumptious!!
pk says
Thanks for the Print Button!!!!
Samantha says
Looks wonderfully cooling! The only mint in our garden that survived Yeti’s Curse (AKA last winter) is my apple mint. Will that work?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Samantha – I used spearmint, but any of the mints should work for this recipe. Apple mint might be divine.
Georgeann Brown says
Woo Hoo, thanks for the print option. Gladly retire ‘cut and paste’ your delish recipes.
Angela Willis says
One of my three sons is lime CRAZY! He will adore this!
Thanks for such a simple recipe, Kevin!
Sarabeth says
Oh my my my!! Another great use for a bottle of vodka!! (Not to mention the limes, of course!) My herb garden thanks you for the spearmint is overflowing and now can be cut back and used! YUM!! (The print button is devine Kevin! You are the BEST!)
Ardelle says
Now, if only I could grow lime trees in Wisconsin! I, too have numerous flavors of mint which I use for many dishes. Your Limeade may just become a doable substitute for my evening ‘Gin and Tonic’. I definitely will try it after my next foray into the local organic food coop for some lovely limes. Thanks – sounds super delicious…
Arden Rembert Brink says
Hi, Kevin — I’ll just join the others in saying that I would have thought the pith would make things bitter when you use the whole lime, so have never even tried. I was fascinated when I read this since I know your recipes are always wonderful so it *must* be that it wasn’t bitter. I’m going to try this now!!
Carol says
This is a great feature!!! Thanks!!! Works great.
Janet Ortega says
Looks super refreshing but we don’t consume cane sugar, Dr. Ordered. Couod you put a Stevia blend in there? Never knew that sugar is sooo very bad for you. Sugar feeds cancer.
Lois Owens says
Thanks so much for the Print Recipe feature!!!!!!!!
Minne says
Spectacular. Can’t wait to have this with vodka~
Judie says
This is fabulous! Never been a fan of mojitos but loving this one……I just happened to have 6 limes in the fridge,it’s a keeper like most of your recipes.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Minnie and Judie – So glad you tried — and liked — the limeade!
Vina says
Kevin,
I absolutely love your wonderful site! I’m using so many of your recipes and can’t wait to try this one for limeade. Thank you for the handy-dandy print option.
Casey Cavasher says
OMG – I love limeade but hate to have to make simple syrup, (complain, complain, complain)…
This recipe is wonderful because it uses the whole lime including the peel — I put everything in my NutraBullet and no need to then strain the mixture either. And, of course, I always have several flavors of Absolut in the freezer, just in case…so stop by anytime!
Michelle Newton says
Can’t wait to try this – looks like a pitcher of summer deliciousness!
Marcia says
Thanks so much for the “Print” page. Saves me time when I can pull more weeds. I have two bags of straw saved which will go directly to the recycle compost of the not in the dahlias. Only one hot and humid day in Northern Indiana, either that or I’m used to it now.
I must find some limes.
Connie says
I did the same thing with Meyer lemons earlier this summer! I guess great minds think alike…btw, you can freeze whole or half Meyers when they are in season to use in summer, especially if you are lucky enough to have friends in TX who will mail a boxful of fresh lemons.
Carolyn says
Let me add my thank you to the others for the print option.
Sasha says
Hi Kevin, Any particular mint variety better than others in your experience? Thanks for all of your ideas too.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Sasha – The mintiest mint is spearmint. so that is what I use. But you should feel free to experiment with other varieties, of which there are many!
Ron says
Just squeeze the lines. This is too much mess and the pith of the limes give the drink a bitter taste. Less work to squeeze the limes.
Judi Oldridge says
Have you or any of your followers substituted Stevia for the Super Fine Sugar? Gonna try this, and will let you know what it tastes like! Thank You for all your good recipes, you are a culinary genius! I also love that you added the new print feature!