Do you have lemons at home? Great, then we can prepare a delicious and easy syrup to use all year round as a non-alcoholic drink to be enjoyed chilled or not, either plain or sparkling, suitable for the whole family (here you will find the orange one and here the one made with fresh mint leaves). Like all preserves, this preparation, with its liquid consistency, lasts a long time in the pantry, thanks to the amount of sugar which acts as a preservative and an additional step for vacuum forming in boiling water, to be even more secure. Lemon syrup, as a drink, is a preparation that should be served diluted with still water if we want a fresh and refreshing lemonade; or with sparkling water or, even better, with tonic water for fizzy drinks that in terms of taste are no less than those on the market. Homemade lemon syrup can be used pure or diluted even in the preparation of popsicles, desserts, cake soaking, or ice creams.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: about 1.7 qt
- Cooking methods: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 1 qt lemon juice
- 2.2 lbs granulated sugar
- zest of two lemons
- 2 g fine salt
Preparation
Wash the lemons with a brush. Peel only two, making sure not to cut the bitter white inner part.
Juice all the lemons and pour the juice (strained with a strainer) and the zest into a small saucepan.
Add the sugar and fine salt and bring to a boil; let it simmer for just 5 minutes. Then, turn off and let cool.
Wash the bottles or small bottles you will use and the hermetic caps.
For vacuum sealing. As soon as the mixture is cold, strain it with a strainer and pour it into the bottles up to the base of the neck, seal tightly and place them in one or more large pots, after wrapping them in towels to prevent breakage.
Fill with water up to an inch above the bottles and bring to a boil, let them simmer for 20 minutes; then, turn off and let them cool without touching. Then you can dry them and store them in the pantry. Once opened, the syrup should be kept in the fridge.
For fizzy drinks that are just as good as those on the market:
Serving for 1 water glass
-1.7 oz of lemon syrup
-4.5 oz of sparkling or tonic water.
