There is no doubt that that Summer Time is the time for hanging with friends and family, enjoying the outdoors and sharing meals.. and of course summer can only be complete with a glass of ice cold lemonade. But what if you had something more nutrient dense like a glass of Refreshing Lemon Gingerade instead?

Because, just lemons, sugar and water? Seems a bit boring and not too nutritious after a long day in the sun.. Here is where the wonderful Ginger root comes in! MAUW! I love this root and all its loaded properties. Ginger is amazing it relives nausea, reduces muscle pain, and supports digestion (which as a celiac is TOTALLY needed). Ginger is also packed with antioxidants and strengthens the immune system. I could really make this list go on and on!

lemon gingerade gluten free grub — Stay up to date with all my recipes on Instagram @glutenfreegrubz

So what makes this Refreshing Lemon Gingerade so great besides the ginger? Well other than the awesome benefits that ginger brings to the table, its also sweetened with honey instead of processed sugar. Which adds for some peace of mind as you’ll want to drink more and more of this delicious drink!

This is personally my favorite “go to” drink when I know I’m going to be outside a lot. I will make this on the weekend and sip on it throughout the week. Perfect to drink after a long run, hike, or bike ride. It naturally calms my “celiac stomach” down and is refreshing. So how is it made? See the recipe below!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS NOTES

Ginger: The fresher the better! You can tell ginger is starting to go bad when the ends become wrinkly and a bit brown. Try to get ginger that is solid color and still stiff.

Lemon(s): I do NOT recommend using bottled lemon juice. The fresh lemons add flavor that can’t be found in a bottle.

Honey: Any honey will do! Just make sure it is still gooey and not crystalized yet.

Salt: No need for fancy salt, but if you have some great! Table salt will do just fine.

Filtered Water: Water is my go to! But I have also tried this recipe by using 2 cups of water (for the boiling) and adding fizzy water at the end to taste. Super good!

EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THIS RECIPE

My recipe for Lemon Gingerade is very simple to make and doesn’t require any fancy equipment. You will need a grater to grate the ginger (or you can cut it up into small pieces), a measuring cup, a small saucepan, and a strainer. A juicer for the lemon(s) will also be needed. Lastly, a juice pitcher or glass jar to store your juice in. Optional: you can also use a reusable Tea Steeper for this recipe, but it is not needed.

HOW TO MAKE REFRESHING LEMON GINGERADE

Step 1: Grate 3-4 inches of fresh ginger into a small bowl. If you really enjoy the taste of ginger, then grate closer to 4 inches. You can use either a hand held grater or a box grater. If you have neither, you can just cut the ginger into small pieces since it will just be used to boil in the saucepan.

Step 2: Place fresh grated ginger and 2 cups of filtered water into a small saucepan. Place heat on medium-high and bring water to a boil. Let boil for at least 15mins. If you prefer to place the ginger in a tea steeper instead of straight into the pan, that works as well. I noticed the ginger taste is strongest when I place the ginger pieces straight into the pan.

Step 3: While ginger/water come to a boil, use the time to juice the lemon(s) and create 3/4 cup of fresh lemon juice.

Step 4: Strain lemon juice by pouring through a strainer and into your juice pitcher or glass jar. If your glass jar has a narrow mouth opening, pour strained juice into a measuring cup, then pour into the glass jar.

Step 5: Once you have let the ginger and water boil for at least 15mins, turn off heat and allow time for it to cool slightly.

Step 6: Pour ginger and water from the saucepan through a strainer into your juice pitcher or glass jar. In my pictures I was using a narrow mouth glass jar, so I had to first pour into a measuring cup before pouring into the jar. If you are using glass, make sure it is compatible with heat before pouring in the hot liquid.

Step 7: Add ¼ tsp salt, 2 tbsps of honey, and 2 cups of filtered water to the mixture. Stir in pitcher, or attach lid and shake in jar until completely dissolved.

Step 8: Serve over ice and enjoy!