Cucumber Mint Lemonade Infusion Food

CUCUMBER-MINT LEMONADE

Steps:

• Pulse 2 chopped English cucumbers, 2 cups fresh lemon juice (about 16 lemons), 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh mint and 1 cup sugar in a blender, stirring as needed, until combined. Puree until smooth, about 1 minute. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing the solids with the back of a spoon. Stir in 3 cups water. Serve over ice.

CUCUMBER MINT LEMONADE

Steps:

• Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup of the water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until sugar has dissolved, stirring frequently, about 3-5 minutes. After boiling, remove from heat and let cool or place in the refrigerator to cool quick (about 15 minutes).
• In a large pitcher, add sliced cucumber and mint leaves and muddle with a large wooden spoon or cocktail muddler to release the cucumber juice and infuse it with the mint oils.
• Pour the lemon juice, simple syrup, and remaining 6 cups of water into the pitcher and mix with a large spoon until well combined. Serve by pouring over ice in a small glass and topping with a cucumber and mint leaf as garnish.

CUCUMBER & MINT LEMONADE INFUSION

Steps:

• For the mint syrup: Combine fresh mint, sugar and water in a small pot and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest. Let mint steep for 30 minutes before straining syrup through a sieve lined with cheesecloth. Allow to cool completely and store in refrigerator until ready to use.
• For the lemonade: Slice cucumbers into rounds and add to a blender. Blend on high until cucumbers are fully broken down into juice, stirring as needed. Strain cucumber juice through a sieve lined with cheesecloth, pressing down on the pulp to remove all of the liquid. You should be left with about one cup of juice.
• In a large pitcher, combine cucumber juice, mint syrup, lemon juice and cold water. When ready to serve, add 1-2 cups of ice. Garnish individual glasses with cucumber ribbons and fresh mint.

CUCUMBER MINT LEMONADE

Steps:

• Place chopped cucumbers in a blender with fresh Mint Leaves and Blend until liquified.
• Place a sieve/strainer over a bowl and use the back of a wooden spoon to force the pulp through the strainer (not all of it but get all the cucumber juice from the pulp).
• In a large pitcher, put ice cubes, lemonade (if using fresh lemon juice, add lemon zest to pitcher) and add the juice from the cucumber/mint mixture to the pitcher.
• Mix.
• Add fresh cut lemon wedges and fresh mint leaves to the pitcher.
• Serve chilled.