Frozen Mint Lemonade (Limonana) ~ a slushy, minty, Middle Eastern version of lemonade that is honestly the most refreshing drink I have ever had in my life.
limonana is the ultimate refresher
take 2 of the world’s most refreshing foods, mint and lemons, blitz them up with lots of ice, and you’ve got one epic refresher.
This is the drink I’ll be sipping (slurping) ALL August long. I discovered it when I was out to lunch with my daughter (modeling above) the other day. She ordered a mint lemonade, and I was curious about it. She said she learned to love it on a summer trip to the Middle East. She hadn’t had it since, so we were both excited to see it on the menu.
We picked up lemons and fresh mint on the way home and haven’t looked back since. We made our first batch the next day, in triple digit temeperatures, and it was so utterly refreshing it’s spoiled me for all other summer drinks. There’s something about the lemon and mint together that cools you down and quenches your thirst instantly. And with just a touch of sugar or honey, this is a super healthy, low calorie drink, too.
what is limonana?
Limonana is simply mint infused lemonade, and it’s served all over the Middle East. For such a simple concept it packs a ginormous punch. I have never had a more delicious and energizing drink, and I know you’re going to love it. The second time we made it (the very next day!) we spiked it with rum for a slushy mojito type cocktail and it was equally awesome, I highly recommend you try it both ways.
3 fresh ingredients
- fresh lemon juice
- fresh mint
- sugar
I love my stainless steel straws ~ they’re fun to drink out of, and eco-friendly, too.
how do you make limonana?
- squeeze some lemons, and mix up a quick lemonade with the juice, a little sugar syrup, and water.
- Pluck a good handful of fresh spearmint leaves (use spearmint, not peppermint, for the best flavor.)
- Add everything to a good blender (Vitamix is my favorite) along with some ice. (You can do it without the ice, too.)
- Blend until slushy and spoon into a tall glass.
- You won’t be sorry.
make this frozen mint lemonade your own
Feel free to adjust the amount of any of the ingredients, many different combinations will work, depending on how sweet or minty you like it. My recipe is tangy and not super sweet.
- Make it alcoholic ~ add rum or vodka.
- Make it with honey instead of sugar.
- Make it low carb/sugar free using Stevia or your favorite alternative sweetener.
- Make it without the ice ~ blend up the lemonade and mint, then serve over ice.
- Make it ahead ~ blend the mint with the lemonade ahead and chill until ready to serve, then blend up with the ice.
what to serve with limonana
- Spiced Lamb Meatballs with Hummus
- Loaded Tabbouleh Salad
- Falafel Burger Recipe (copycat McFalafel)
- Lemon Artichoke Hummus
- Lebanese Meatballs
- Shirazi Salad (Persian Cucumber Tomato Salad)
Frozen Mint Lemonade (Lemonana)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice seeds removed, but keep the pulp, preferably cold
- 1 cup water for a less tart lemonade, add 1/2 cup more water, but remember that the ice will dilute the lemon, too
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- a good handful of fresh mint leaves not the stems or about a packed 1/4 cup
- 2 heaping cups of ice cubes
Instructions
- Dissolve the sugar in the water, stirring often the water is clear and all the grains have dissolved, this will take a couple of minutes. Mix with the lemon juice and chill until cold. You want to start with very cold lemonade.
- Add the mint, lemonade mixture, and ice to a blender and blend until slushy.
- Pour into glasses and serve immediately, garnished with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint.
13 Comments
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
August 2, 2018 at 11:33 amLove this refreshing drink and love more these great photos with your daughter 🙂 Miss having mine around for my photo shoots!
Angie
August 1, 2018 at 9:39 pmIf I drank lemonade, then it would be this one! Such a cool recipe, Sue.
Lisa Huff
August 1, 2018 at 9:48 amWow, can’t wait to try! Looks WAY better than regular every day kind of lemonade!
Nancy
August 1, 2018 at 10:20 amLook like the perfect beverage for a hot day! Love the flavor combo. And, the mint in my herb garden is BURSTING right now. Awesome.
Sue
August 1, 2018 at 12:27 pmThis is the perfect recipe for garden mint!
Iryna
August 1, 2018 at 10:08 amI love everything about this lemonade. Such a perfect refreshment for summer. I’m sure my kids would enjoy this too.
Pooja
August 1, 2018 at 9:58 amThis lemonade is quite refreshing.
Neli
August 1, 2018 at 9:57 amI LOVE how easy and delicious this is! I am going to make this! Thank you.
Tricia
August 1, 2018 at 9:14 amThis is the most refreshing drink I’ve seen all summer! I would get a brain freeze and enjoy every moment slurping this up! What a great treat – and love the idea of adding a little rum. Yes indeed!
Marisa Moore
August 1, 2018 at 9:10 amThis looks so incredibly refreshing. Love the color too!
Sue
August 1, 2018 at 9:39 amThe color is fun!
John
August 1, 2018 at 7:32 amI’m cooling off just looking at the pictures of this! Love citrus, and this looks so refreshing. Thanks!
Sue
August 1, 2018 at 7:43 amI can’t imagine anything better on a hot day 🙂