Homemade lemonade with a spicy kick from fresh ginger, perfectly sweet, and a hint of salt, poured over ice cubes makes a refreshing summer drink. Ready in under 20 minutes, this lemonade will be your favorite drink in the summer!
My memories of Indian summers are of hot and lazy days, off from school, hanging out with friends, cousins and chugging down mom’s homemade lemonade. Mom always added fresh ginger to lemonade. The first time when my husband, Ravi tasted her lemonade it reminded him of the fresh sugarcane juice in India. This is when I realized that there was something very different about mom’s lemonade. It was the freshly grated ginger, with its aroma and spicy kick, that made it so much more refreshing and delicious!
Although lemonade is a classic summer drink, I make it almost through out the year. It is a crowd pleaser and a great non alchohoic drink to serve for your parties; it is a sure hit with adults as well as children.
Benefits of ginger and lemon:
- Both lemon and ginger have antioxidants and help boost overall immunity and digestive health.
- Ginger is a natual antibacterial and antiviral that helps fight infections in the body.
- Lemon is a good source of vitamin C and other nutrients.
- Sugar in this recipe can be reduced or substituted with honey for a healthier lemonade.
Here are few variations of Ginger Lemonade recipe:
- Bring lemon juice, sugar, ginger and a cup of water to boil. Strain, allow it to cool down and store in a glass jar. To serve simply stir in a few tablespoons of the concentrate in chilled water and a sprinkle of salt.
- Place lemon juice, sugar, salt and ginger in a cup of warm water for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to infuse. Strain and stir in a few tablespoons of the concentrate to chilled water.
- Use sparkling water or club soda instead of chilled water to mix in with the ginger lemon concentrate.
How long does the Ginger Lemonade last and can it be made ahead of time
Although freshly made lemonade always taste the best, you can easily refrigerate it for 2 to 3 days. You can also make the concentrate and store in the fridge upto a week ahead or pour in an ice cube tray and freeze for longer shelf life.
Step by step Ginger Lemonade recipe:
- Wash and pat dry lemons and ginger. I do not peel ginger, it has lot of flavors and nutrition. Just make sure to rinse thorougly and wipe it with paper towels.
- Cut each lemon into half and juice using a lemon squeezer. Four large lemons will yield into approximatley 1/2 cup of lemon juice.
- Grate the ginger, 3 inch ginger should yield about 3 tablespoons of grated ginger.
- In a small jar add ginger, sugar, salt and lemon juice. Add 1 cup of water and stir well until the sugar dissolves.
- Take a large pitcher (ideally the one from which you will be serving) and place a strainer over it. Pour the lemon juice mixture and gently press with the back of a spatula to get all the juices out.
- Add 4 cups of chilled water, mix well. Serve over ice and mint leaves (optional) for a pop of color.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Here are some of my other favorite drinks using fresh ginger:
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Ginger Lemonade
Ingredients
- 4 large lemons
- 3 inch piece of fresh ginger
- 1/2 cup sugar more or less depending on the sweetness you like
- 4 cups water chilled
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves optional
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry lemons and ginger. I do not peel ginger, it has lot of flavors and nutrition. Just make sure to rinse thorougly and wipe it with paper towels.Cut each lemon into half and juice using a lemon squeezer. Four large lemons will yield into approximatley 1/2 cup of lemon juice. Grate the ginger, 3 inch ginger should yield about 3 tablespoons of grated ginger.
- In a small jar add ginger, sugar, salt and lemon juice. Add 1 cup of water and stir well until the sugar dissolves.
- Take a large pitcher (ideally the one from which you will be serving) and place a strainer over it. Pour the lemon juice mixture and gently press with the back of a spatula to get all the juices out. Add 4 cups of chilled water, mix well. Serve over ice, top with mint leaves (optional) for a pop of color.
Video
Nutrition
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Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in 2016, but was updated in June 2019 with new photos and step by step recipe.
Hans Susser says
Ahhhh….. just what I needed for summer 🙂 Cheers !
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http://www.ChefsOpinion.org
Archana says
Thank you Hans!
Fairytales & Foibles says
Oh my – I can’t wait to try this! It sounds refreshingly delicious! 🙂
Archana says
Thank you! I would love to know how you like it!
Parul Singhal says
Lovely presentation..Archana
Archana says
Thank you Parul!
cookingwithshy says
Nice that the lemonade has some ginger too!! Perfect summer drink!!
payeljit says
Looks so refreshing!I will try this drink recipe as soon as possible! Really good recipe!
Archana says
Thank you Payaljit! Hope you like it!!
CHCooks says
Sounds totally refreshing! 🙂
anindianhomemaker says
best for summer
Nandini says
Such a refreshing drink Archana 🙂
Archana says
Thank you Nandini!
Fijay says
Ooooooh nice …..Thankyou:)
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
A refreshing drink to beat the heat! Looks great!
Archana says
Thank you Freda!
Sandhya says
Archana, I love the addition of ginger in the lemonade. It definitely takes it to another level! also, just like your husband , it reminds me of the sugarcane juice which I love!
Archana says
Thank you Sandhya! It is a must have drink for summer
Leyla says
This looks delicious! I am going to try this recipe?
Archana says
Thank you Leyla! Let me know how you like it.
Johanne Lamarche says
I love the ginger in the lemonade Archana! Beautiful photography too!
Archana says
Thank you Johanne.
Kouzounas Kitchen says
The perfect mix of flavors!!
Archana says
Thank you!!
kavitaparvathi says
Absolute favorite thirst quencher
Archana says
Thank you Kavita!
Anu Yalo says
Very refreshing drink!!
Archana says
Thank you Anu!
Heide Linde Horeth says
Yum! Thank you for reinforcing that it’s good to leave the skin on the ginger…I do that as well! I learned a great way to keep ginger from a friend from Punjab. She whirls the ginger with water in a blender and then freezes the mixture in a freezer baggie and lies it flat in the freezer. When frozen she can unzip the baggie and break a small piece off with her hands as needed for cooking. Now I store many herbs in these flat baggies and have a small container in the freezer that looks like a filing system for them. It is easy to organize and use them this way. Thank you!
Archana says
Thank you Heide! So yes I do the same think but I do not add water. Just process it in food processor and freeze thin layers in zip lock bags
Heide Linde Horeth says
Even better! Thanks, Archana!
Archana says
You are most welcome