Bright strawberry and lime cooler: blend, strain, chill, and serve with ice, mint, or a splash of sparkling water.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fruit
01 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
→ Citrus
02 - 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 2-3 limes)
→ Sweetener
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
→ Liquid
04 - 3 cups cold water, divided
→ Garnish
05 - Lime slices
06 - Fresh mint leaves
07 - Extra strawberries, sliced
# Method Steps:
01 - Place the strawberries, lime juice, sugar, and 1 cup of cold water in a blender; process until completely smooth.
02 - Pour the purée through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible; discard the solids.
03 - Add the remaining 2 cups of cold water to the pitcher and stir until the liquid is uniform.
04 - Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity by adding more sugar or lime juice, stirring to incorporate adjustments.
05 - Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld, or proceed to serve immediately over ice if preferred.
06 - Ladle over ice and finish with lime slices, mint leaves, or sliced strawberries as desired.