May 30 2008
Limonada, lemonade or limeade
This is the easiest, quickest and most effective way to make limonada, in Spanish we call it limonada regardless of whether we are using limes or lemons, and it can be made with either, so enjoy this amazing limeade or lemonade. I used to make limonada the hard way: squeezing the juice out each lime or lemon, but one day (a long time ago) I was hanging out at my friend Marisha’s house, it was a warm day and lemonade sounded perfect, at first I was shocked when I saw her mix a whole lime, several cups of water and sugar in the blender. I was sure that it was going to a disaster, the skin was going to ruin it, she blended and strained the limonada, as soon as I tasted it (expecting I would have to politely pretend I liked it), I was amazed at how good and refreshing it was, the lime or lemon skins actually enhanced it, there was a tiny bitter taste but it was very subtle and actually made the limeade or lemonade better.
You can make this limeade or lemonade by just throwing the whole limes or lemons in the blender, but it does make it a little bit easier to quarter them. Also, on the sugar side, I don’t like my lemonade too sweet so I usually add a little bit less, but if I’m making this for guests I’ll add more since most people seem to like their lemonade or limeade sweet. My rule of thumb is 4 cups of water per each lime or lemon, but you can also adjust that based on how concentrated you like it and the size of the lemons/limes. Finally, while this limeade or lemonade is very refreshing it does tend to get bitter if left out for too long, so it should be consumed on the same day it is made, on a warm day that shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Ingredients:
2 limes or lemons, quartered and any seeds removed
8 cups of cold water
Approximately ½ cup of sugar, more or less based on your preference
Ice cubes as desired
Preparation:
- Place the quartered limes or lemons in the blender with 4 cups of water and sugar.
- Blend until the limes or lemon is completely pulverized, the mixture should be slightly foamy with a whitish color.
- Strain the lemonade and add the remaining 4 cups of water.
- Serve with or without ice based on individual preference.
That’s an excellent idea! I never would have considered blending an entire citrus fruit!
Holy moly! This is incredible! I have limes in the house now — will try this and report back!
That’s just a Margarita waiting to happen. Looks great.
I love this idea! I’d love a glass of limeade right about now, too. I’m going to try this over the weekend–thanks for sharing!
This is a wonderful idea. It will be over 100 here today so I will make this for my family. Love your blog.
I just made this using 1 lemon (and it was a little dry and old looking…LOL) and 1 lime and it is every bit as good as you say. THANKS!
What an EXCELLENT idea! I just whipped up a batch for margarita mix, using about 6 limes, and agave nectar to sweeten instead of sugar, and I am currently enjoying a lovely, more subtle cocktail! Thanks!
Made this last night with one lemon and one lime and 1/2 cup sugar. It’s perfect! I’m going to need to stock up on them so we can have this everyday this summer. So refreshing! Thank you for sharing.
i liked it general but i realized if u dont use 1/4 cup sugar the bitterness comes out.
I also realized you REALLY have to blend it or else ull choke trying to drink big peices of pulp.
nonetheless creative and tasty.
i might skin the lemons next time.
I made this yesterday and today and can’t get enough of it!! Lemon and lime yesterday and orange and lemon today it’s so refreshing and good.
I made it last night with a lemon and a lime and mixed the result with vodka. I didn’t use as much water as you called for, since I was adding the vodka and wanted a good strong citrus flavor. It was amazing, and SO much easier than squeezing a ton of lemon juice. Also, I processed the fruit and sugar on their own first, and then streamed in the liquid. It made the fruit pulverize in mere seconds.
This is such a fresh idea!! i love lemon juice, i just don’t like squeezing the fruit.. i’ll sure try with the blender, thanks
I bet you could do this with oranges too. Also, remember to wash the outside of your lemons, limes, oranges thoroughly if you’re adding the skins to your drink. So much wax, people’s hands, god knows what pesticides. Sorry, I’m a freak.
I tried this and love it!
Refreshing!
I made this a long time ago.
I put the ice in the blender at the beginning.
It came out more like a smoothie.
add a little alcohol of your choice, if desired.
this recipe is quite common in other parts of the world. try adding a dash of pepper or cayenne to it.
Incredible recipe. Love it! I am going to cook it tonight!
I tried this, and I may have made a mistake. It was quite bitter. I didn’t like it very much. What did I do wrong?
Thanks.
Hi Steve - The limeade does have a slight bitterness to it since the lime peels are used, sometimes people just don’t like that taste so it might be a personal preference. It also depends on the limes/lemons, the thicker the peel the more bitterness the drink will have.
I like this idea! This I must try the next time I make lemon or limeade - which will probably be today. Tis the season for light refreshing drinks. Yesterday, I posted my Ginger Infused Limeade drink recipe. I have plenty of lime, lemons and ginger so I’m certain I’ll report back soon with my verdict. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Ingrid, limeade with ginger sounds so good, my husband is a huge ginger fan and loves the idea of mixing it with limeade, so we’ll be trying your recipe soon!
Brilliant! use the whole thing!
Thnx a lot, this is much better tasting then just the juice (and using a lot less lemons)!
Thanks for the recipe, this is the best lemonade I have ever had. Quick and easy to make as well!
Fabulous idea! Trying it tonight. Husband is trying to get off sodas (and high fructose corn syrup!) so we’ve been making homemade lemonade. Last night, I saw the grocery receipt; he had no idea he’s been paying $5 for THREE organic lemons (his recipe calls for a dozen!)! SO VERY GRATEFUL to find this method!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!!
This reminds me of a favorite pie along the same line……. delicious and easy!
Stephanie’s Lemon Pie
1 lg. lemon cut in pieces, seeds removed, but w/rind & peel intact
1-1/2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 stick (1/2 c.) margarine
1 tsp. vanilla
A 9” unbaked pie shell, pressed into pie pan & fluted
Preheat oven to 350.
Put all ingredients (except pie shell) in food processor or blender and whir like crazy.
Mixture will be foamy. Keep whirring until it’s smooth, with no lumps of margarine.
Pour lemon filling in unbaked pie shell and bake 40 minutes. Will set up like custard.
Serve warm. Good chilled, too. Refrigerate any leftovers (yeah, right, like there’ll be any!)
It is the pith (white part) of the skin that causes the bitterness…..so, a thin skinned fruit will be less bitter. The dark part of the skin (the zest and oils) is what gives the intense citrus flavor. Thanks for a GREAT recipe!!!!
I shouldn’t have blended four lemons with only 8 cups of water. It was quite bitter. I needed more sugar and lemon juice. I liked it, though…=D
Uh, i don’t know if anyone has tried Pisco Sour… It’s a delicious drink based on Pisco and lemon juice. If moderators consider this as spam because it’s already been posted, I take it. Otherwise…here I go
Ingredients:
3 fl oz Pisco (a traditional Peruvian brandy)
2 fl oz lemon juice
1 fl oz simple syrup
Egg white
ground cinnamon
Blend the pisco, the lemon juice, the egg white and the syrup until it has foam on the surface. Serve in small glasses and add a little of ground cinnamon.
Enjoy.
I suggest that you use authentic Pisco, I mean. Pisco from a city called Pisco, in Peru. (Now you know where the brandy’s name comes from). If you have a Peruvian friend, he or she knows.
Viva el Peru!!!!
Great taste!! Yummy!! Thanks. A new family favorite.
Hi. I literally just made this as per recipe, and it turned out great! It’s incredibly easy both to make and clean up (always a plus) and even more refreshing. I’m eager to try out the Ginger Infused Limeade soon. Thanks!
Wow! I love it. My husband wasn’t so sure about it when he saw me doing it…told me if it was bad I was drinking it all. We both thoroughly enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing.