This Limonada de Fresa recipe combines the sweetness of a Mexican agua de fresa and the tanginess of a classic limonada. Not only is it refreshingly delicious, but easy to make with natural ingredients and packed with vitamins and minerals. Try this strawberry limeade on hot summer days or any time you need a refreshing pick-me-up.
In the summertime, while my mom loved to make aguas frescas, my dad loved making limonadas. Aguas frescas are refreshing Mexican beverages made by blending water with fruits, flowers, grains, or seeds. Limonadas, or limeades, on the other hand, are citrus-based drinks, typically made with lime juice, sugar, and water.
This limonada de fresa recipe is a perfect blend of these two drinks: the fruity sweetness of agua de fresa and the tangy zing of a classic limonada. The result is a bright, zesty drink with a burst of sweet, juicy strawberry flavor.
For other refreshing lime and fruit drinks, check out Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca, Watermelon Mojito Mocktail, and Cucumber Watermelon Agua Fresca.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Healthy and Nutritious: Made with natural ingredients and packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Easy to Make: This recipe requires only 4 ingredients and is quick and easy to prepare.
- Customizable: Easily adjust the sweetness and lime to suit your liking.
- Great for Groups: Prepare a pitcher ahead of time and serve at your next BBQ, party, or family gathering.
- Refined Sugar-Free Options: You can make this with sugar, but I've included options for a refined sugar-free version too.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Strawberries: Ripe strawberries will yield the sweetest, most flavorful agua fresca. Check the section "How to Choose Ripe Strawberries" below for tips.
- Limes: Freshly squeezed lime juice adds a bright, zesty, citrusy flavor that balances the sweetness of the strawberries.
- Sweetener: For the sweetener, I recommend making a simple syrup with honey. Honey adds a lovely depth of flavor and also offers a refined sugar-free option. If you prefer, you can also use coconut sugar for a slightly caramel-like sweetness (which is what I used for the photos) or cane sugar for a more traditional taste.
- Water: I recommend using filtered, cold water for a smoother taste. Cold water reduces the need for excess ice and helps your drink chill more quickly in the refrigerator.
- Ice: Use ice when serving the limeade to keep it chilled and refreshing.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Choose Ripe Strawberries
Ripe strawberries will result in a much more flavorful drink. Here are tips on what to look for:
- Color: Bright red with no white or green patches.
- Texture: Firm but slightly soft. Avoid mushy or soft spots that indicate overripe strawberries.
- Smell: A sweet and fragrant aroma. If they smell sour or have no scent, they may not be ripe.
- Size: Medium to large strawberries are generally the sweetest. Avoid smaller or very large ones.
How to Make Strawberry Limeade
1. Make Simple Syrup: Combine either coconut sugar (as pictured), honey or cane sugar with water to create a simple syrup. This helps the sweetener dissolve evenly in the drink. Set aside to cool.
2. Wash and Cut Strawberries: Wash the strawberries then remove the stems. Cut the strawberries into halves or quarters, depending on their size, for easier blending.
3. Squeeze Limes: Cut the limes in half and squeeze the juice into a measuring cup, removing any seeds.
4. Add Ingredients: In a blender, place the cut strawberries, freshly squeezed lime juice, simple syrup, and cold water.
5. Blend: Blend the mixture for 1-2 minutes until smooth, ensuring the strawberries are fully pureed and the ingredients are well combined.
6. Chill and Serve: Add ice to a pitcher, pour limonada, and stir. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together, or serve immediately over ice.
Recommended for this Recipe
Vitamix Blender
I use my high-powered Vitamix every day. It blends aguas frescas so well that there is no need to strain.
Serving Suggestions
- For the best flavor and cooling drink, serve over ice.
- Garnish each glass with a slice of strawberry or lime.
- You can also mix in small pieces of strawberries into the pitcher for another garnish idea.
How to Store
Store leftover limonada de fresa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Tips and Variations
- Make a large batch: Prepare a large pitcher in advance, especially for parties or special events.
- Adjust sweetness: If you prefer a sweeter drink, make and add more simple syrup. If you prefer less sweetness, make the simple syrup with less sweetener as indicated in the recipe card notes.
- Add a splash of sparkling water: For a bubbly version, add a splash of sparkling water.
- Infuse the water: For an extra layer of flavor, add fresh herbs like mint or basil to the pitcher.
FAQ
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries, but you may need to add a little extra water to achieve the desired consistency. You may need to add extra sweetener to account for the extra water as well.
For the best flavor and quality, freshly squeezed lime juice is best. Some bottled lime juice often contains preservatives and additives that can affect the taste, and others may even contain high fructose corn syrup.
I hope you enjoy! If you try this recipe, please leave me a comment with a star rating below. Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest to stay in touch, and don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter.
Recipe
Limonada de Fresa (Strawberry Limeade)
Equipment
- Knife
- cutting board
- Small pot
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds fresh strawberries
- 4-6 limes enough for ½ cup of juice
- ¾ cup honey or 1 cup of sugar, see notes
- 6 cups filtered, cold water, divided
- ½ cup ice, plus more for serving
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine ¾ cup of honey (or 1 cup of sugar) with 1 cup of water.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sweetener is fully dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Wash the strawberries and remove the stems. Cut the strawberries into halves or quarters.
- Cut the limes in half and squeeze the juice into a measuring cup, removing any seeds. You’ll need ½ cup of freshly squeezed lime juice.
- In a blender, combine the cut strawberries, lime juice, cooled simple syrup, and 5 cups of cold water. Blend for 1-2 minutes until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into a pitcher with ice and stir.
- Serve immediately over ice or refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to an hour to allow the flavors to meld.
Notes
- Honey is sweeter than sugar which is why the ingredients call for only ¾ cup of honey for the simple syrup.
- If you prefer a less sweet drink, you can use ½ cup of honey or ¾ cup of sugar to make the simple syrup.
- You can use coconut sugar for a slightly caramel-like sweetness or cane sugar for a more traditional taste.
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