Lemon and mint

Name: Lemon and mint
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Levantine
Ingredients: 5 pieces limes; 1 cup fresh mint leaves; 4 cups cold water; 1/3 cup sugar; 2 cups ice cubes

Lime and fresh mint blitzed with ice in short pulses — a pale green drink served straight away.

Vegan

Cooking time: 10 min
Hands-on time: 10 min
Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: Levantine
Calories: 120

The green drink everyone asks for in the heat. It's blended in short pulses only, because long blending turns the mint bitter, and it's served at once before it separates.

Before you start

Before you beginRead the steps completely, measure the ingredients, and prepare the tools before turning on the heat or oven.
Timing the servingPrepare what you can in advance and leave the final touches until serving time to maintain the texture.

Ingredients

4people

Amounts follow the number of people

For the drink

The quantity can be doubled, adjusting the sweetness after tasting, and adding ice to each cup when serving.

Equipment

Blender — The ice and mint need blending; without it you have ordinary lemonade.
Strainer — Optional — for a smoother texture.

Method

Squeeze the lemons and strain the juice, then dissolve the sugar in a little water.
5 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
The juice is clear and the sugar has dissolved.
Blend all the ingredients with the ice in short pulses.
2 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
The drink is light green and the mint is crumbled, not mashed.
Tip: Blending too long makes the mint bitter — short pulses only.
Strain it if you want it smooth, and serve immediately with a mint leaf.
3 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
Serve straight away, before it separates.