Strawberry Rhubarb Lemonade

With the long Jubilee weekend ahead you may need a little something to help you celebrate in style. If you are having a street party or a BBQ or even just having people over for drinks this weekend why not make a batch of this delicious rhubarb and strawberry lemonade. We are in the middle of the UK rhubarb and strawberry seasons so there is no better time to whip up a batch. Making the lemonade is really easy, tastes so fruity and so classicly of summer. If you want to make this a little more grown up then you could of course add a shot or two of gin or vodka, to make a deliciously refreshing cocktail.

Strawberry and Rhubarb Lemonade

200g caster sugar
200ml water
3-4 lemons
350g strawberries, hulled and halved
250g rhubard, cut into 2cm long pieces

Place the sugar and water in a large saucepan along with the zest of 2 of the lemons. Cook the mixture over medium heat until the sugar has melted and the syrup is at a simmer. Add the fruit and cook for 15-20 minutes at a gentle simmer until the fruit has broken down and the syrup is a wonderful ruby red.

At this stage you have two choices you can strain the mixture through cheese cloth leaving you with the syrup or you can use a hand blender to puree the fruits and the syrup together. This liquid then needs passing through a sieve to remove any flesh left over.

To finish the lemonade top up the syrup with the juice of between 3 and 4 lemons depending on how strong you want the lemon flavour. To serve fill a glass one third full with syrup and top up with chilled soda water and plenty of ice. I like to finish the drink with a few pieces of strawberry and a slice of lemon