Description
Spicy and refreshing homemade lemonade with a kick! This Jalapeño Lime Lemonade combines the tartness of lemons and limes with the subtle heat of jalapeños for a unique and flavorful drink.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10–12 large, juicy lemons (enough for about 1 ½ – 2 cups of lemon juice)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 6 cups cold water, plus more to adjust concentration
- 2–3 jalapeños, depending on your spice preference, seeded and finely minced (wear gloves!)
- 2 limes, juiced (about ¼ cup lime juice)
- Ice, for serving
- Lime wedges and jalapeño slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar and 1 cup of the cold water.
- Add the finely minced jalapeños to the saucepan. Remember to wear gloves when handling jalapeños and avoid touching your face!
- Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, carefully taste the syrup. If you want it spicier, continue simmering for another 5 minutes, then taste again.
- Once you’re happy with the spice level, remove the saucepan from the heat. Let the syrup cool slightly for about 5-10 minutes. Then, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a heat-resistant container. Discard the jalapeño pieces.
- Allow the jalapeño-infused simple syrup to cool completely before using it in the lemonade. You can speed up the cooling process by placing the container in the refrigerator.
- Juice all 10-12 lemons until you have about 1 ½ – 2 cups of fresh lemon juice. Make sure to remove any seeds that may have fallen into the juice.
- In a large pitcher, combine the fresh lemon juice and the remaining 5 cups of cold water.
- Add the freshly squeezed lime juice to the pitcher.
- Gradually add the cooled jalapeño-infused simple syrup to the pitcher of lemonade. Start with about half of the syrup and taste. Add more syrup to reach your desired level of sweetness and spiciness.
- Taste the lemonade and adjust the sweetness and spiciness as needed. If it’s too tart, add more simple syrup (you can make a plain simple syrup if you don’t want to add more spice). If it’s not spicy enough, you can add a few more drops of the jalapeño simple syrup or even a tiny pinch of finely minced jalapeño (use caution!).
- Chill the lemonade in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice. Pour the jalapeño lime lemonade over the ice. Garnish with lime wedges and jalapeño slices, if desired.
Notes
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of jalapeño to your preference.
- Sweeteners: Substitute granulated sugar with honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup.
- Other Fruits: Add strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries.
- Sparkling Lemonade: Substitute some of the water with sparkling water or club soda.
- Herbs: Add mint, basil, or cilantro.
- Cocktail: Add a shot of tequila, vodka, or rum.
- Jalapeno Variety: Experiment with different types of jalapenos.
- Smoked Jalapenos (Chipotles): For a smoky flavor, use chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
- Freezing: Freeze the lemonade in ice cube trays for later use.
- Wear Gloves: Always wear gloves when handling jalapeños.
- Avoid Touching Your Face: Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, after handling jalapeños.
- Wash Your Hands Thoroughly: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling jalapeños.
- Taste as You Go: Taste the lemonade frequently and adjust the sweetness and spiciness to your liking.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Freshly squeezed lemon juice and fresh jalapeños will give you the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes