recipe
Brazilian Lemonade: Creamy Limeade
Fresh limes and sweetened condensed milk make a cold, creamy drink. Partial peeling and a very brief blend keep the citrus bright.
About 6 small glasses over ice (estimated)
Ingredients and method
About 6 small glasses over ice (estimated)
Planning estimate: 10–15 min · Easy.
Timing guide: Includes washing, partial peeling, straining and a second brief blend; serve as soon as it is mixed.
Method
- Peel two limes with a knife, removing the outer peel and most of the white pith. Leave the other two unpeeled. Trim the ends of all four, quarter them and remove visible seeds and thick central white cores.
- Put the lime pieces and water in a blender that can safely hold the volume. Work in two equal batches if necessary. Close the lid and pulse just a few times, keeping the total blending time around 5–10 seconds. The goal is to release juice, not grind the peel into a paste.
- Immediately pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher. Gently press the pulp with a spoon, then discard it; do not force finely ground peel through. Rinse the blender jar to remove remaining peel fragments.
- Return the strained liquid to the clean blender, add the condensed milk and blend briefly until smooth. If working in batches, divide the milk evenly. Taste and add a little cold water if you prefer a lighter drink.
- Fill glasses with ice, pour and serve immediately. Stir the pitcher if it separates while you are serving.
Limes, despite the English name
This drink uses limes. Sweetened condensed milk supplies both sweetness and the creamy body; evaporated milk will not produce the same result. The full can makes a sweet, rich version, so serve it over plenty of ice.
Keep the peel under control
Leaving some peel gives a fragrant citrus edge, but prolonged blending can make the drink bitter. Peeling half the fruit and using short pulses offers more control. Lime size, skin thickness and bitterness vary, so this is best made just before serving.
Prepare for serving
Chill the water and set out your strainer and glasses before cutting the fruit. Contains milk. Refrigerate any remaining drink promptly at 40°F or below and use the same day for best flavor; overnight storage can leave a bitter, separated drink. Do not leave it out longer than two hours, or one hour above 90°F.