Lemonade Concentrate
I usually make a double batch which fits in a Litre mason jar.
Ingredients
- 5 lemons, divided
- 3/4 cup (5¼ ounces) sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon table salt
- 1 cup hot water
Directions
- Select 2 lemons with fewest blemishes and scrub well. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Using vegetable peeler, remove zest of washed lemons in strips.
- Transfer zest to bowl and add sugar and salt. Toss to combine. Using potato masher, mash zest, sugar, and salt vigorously until mixture is damp, clumpy, and very fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Add hot water and stir until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Set aside until cool, about 30 minutes. While mixture cools, juice enough lemons to yield 3/4 cup juice.
- Stir juice into zest mixture until combined. Strain through fine-mesh strainer set over 2-cup liquid measuring cup; discard zest. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour. (If not using concentrate right away, transfer to airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.)
Lemonade
TO MAKE LEMONADE: For single serving, pour 1/2 cup cold water and 1/2 cup concentrate over ice and stir gently to combine; if necessary, dilute with additional water to taste. For 4 servings, fill pitcher with ice, add 2 cups cold water and all of concentrate, and stir to combine; if necessary, dilute with additional water to taste. For sparkling lemonade, substitute plain seltzer for cold water.
Arnold Palmer
1/3 cup of concentrate, 2/3 cup of iced tea, 1/3 of a cup of water or more dilute to taste.