Strawberry Basil Water Ice with Lemon Zest

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Refreshing and naturally fruity water ice made from fresh strawberries and aromatic basil, brightened with lemon zest for a vibrant summer treat. This Italian-inspired recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, layers fresh strawberries, granulated sugar, water into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 90 calories and feeds 6, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 15 min Serves 6 Italian cuisine 90 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 2 cups water. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves completely, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
  2. Step 2: In a blender, puree 2 cups hulled and halved fresh strawberries with 10 fresh basil leaves, 1 tsp lemon zest, and 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice until smooth.
  3. Step 3: Strain the strawberry-basil mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl to remove seeds and basil pieces.
  4. Step 4: Stir the cooled sugar syrup into the strained strawberry mixture until fully combined.
  5. Step 5: Pour mixture into a shallow metal pan and freeze for 45 minutes. Remove from freezer and use a fork to scrape and break up the ice crystals, then return to freezer.
  6. Step 6: Repeat scraping every 30 minutes for 2-3 hours until the water ice is flaky and scoopable.
  7. Step 7: Serve the strawberry basil water ice in chilled bowls garnished with a small basil leaf if desired.

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