Strawberry Basil Mojito

Name: Strawberry Basil Mojito
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 Cup Strawberries, hulled, thin sliced; 1/2 Cup Vodka; 2 Cup Lychee(Litchi), Litchi juice; 1/2 Cup Basil, plus extra purple basil flowers and few leaves for garnish; 2 Lime, Juice of 2 limes, or 3 lemons, use per availability; Sparkling Water, plus crushed ice to fill glasses as per need and taste; 1/8 tsp Salt

A delicious twist on classic Mint Mojito with tropical Lychee, Purple Basil and Strawberries

Posted By Savita

Drinks Mocktails Cocktails

View Recipe

A refreshing, seasonal fresh strawberries, tropical lychee nuts and basil mojito for your next Outdoor BBQ Party. This is a drink, your guest will be asking 'recipe' for, I'm telling yaa!

It is healthy and satisfying to use local ingredients and home grown herbs to mix up drinks for friends and family. Home grown or store bought, fruit based drinks are my favorite drinks to entertain for parties - one drink can be served to all age groups. Local and fresh ingredients really speak to you with their color, flavor and taste like these gorgeous strawberries and stunning purple basil flowers.

Of-course there can be beer or wine for adults, but no one misses opportunity to taste fruity cocktails.

So, I make drinks with and without alcohol for parties to give my guests option to go for alcohol-free version if they prefer. (Just keep the drink virgin and add alcohol per preference.)

This Mojito recipe is a slight shift from classic Mint Mojitos. My version of Mojito has some dazzling purple sweet basil flower from my herb garden (okay, herb pot to be precise, though calling it a garden has its own charm. smiles) I love, love purple basil for its color and aromatic flavor yet little less sharp taste.

Another favorite ingredient in this drink is Litchi Juice, sweet and mild in taste, it blends perfectly with any drink. I often use litchi juice instead of sugar syrups in drinks, it's refreshing sweet and floral aroma pairs perfectly with sharp citrus or tart berry drinks.

PS: This picture above is from Chef De Home old recipe files. When I made this Mojito again, recently, I clicked pictures again to add some 'life of New Colors' (courtesy my new DSLR Camera) to this refreshing drink!

Strawberry Basil Mojito is best prepared just before serving. However, for parties, you can slice strawberries, juice limes (or lemons) and keep glasses ready. Mix drink 30 minutes before guest start arriving and pour over ice filled glasses just before serving.

Pairing Ideas:

World's Easiest Grilled Lamb Burger Salmon with Citrus and Thyme Penne al Forno

Strawberry Basil Mojito

Total Time: 10 mins Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 0 min

Cuisine: Mexican Category: Drink, Cocktail, Mocktail Difficulty: Easy

Yields: 4 Servings Serves: 4

SEE PRINTABLE RECIPE

Ingredients

1 Cup Strawberries (hulled, thin sliced)
1/2 Cup Vodka
2 Cup Lychee(Litchi) (Litchi juice)
1/2 Cup Basil (plus extra purple basil flowers and few leaves for garnish)
2 Lime (Juice of 2 limes, or 3 lemons, use per availability )
Sparkling Water (plus crushed ice to fill glasses as per need and taste)
1/8 tsp Salt

Directions

1. Fill four 8-10 oz (1 & 1/2 cup) glasses with ice and keep aside. In a glass or drink muddling jar, add basil leaves, half cup sliced strawberries, pinch of salt and muddle to release flavor.

Additional Notes:
For non-alcohol version, skip vodka while mixing ingredients and add it later only for elders.
2. Now add lime/lemon juice, vodka, lychee juice. Shake well. Divide equally among four ice filled glasses, fill rest of glass with sparkling water (per your liking), garnish with remaining 1/2 cup slices strawberries, basil flowers and serve immediately.