Summer is the perfect time to indulge in refreshing and easy-to-make drinks, and this Brazilian Limeade recipe is no exception. Made with fresh Persian limes and sweetened condensed milk, this beverage offers a unique combination of tart and sweet flavors that will delight your taste buds. Whether hosting a barbecue or simply lounging by the pool, this Brazilian Limeade is the perfect addition to your summer drink repertoire. So, grab a blender and some limes, and get ready to enjoy a taste of Brazil in the comfort of your home.
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What is Brazilian Limeade?
Brazilian limeade is a tasty and refreshing drink from Brazil. It's made by mixing fresh lime juice with sugar and water. Sometimes, it's blended with ice for a slushy texture. It's a sweet and tangy beverage that's perfect for hot days. You can also find variations with condensed milk for added creaminess and sweetness. It's a popular drink in Brazil and enjoyed by people of all ages.
Brief highlights of our Brazilian Limeade recipe:
- Taste: This Brazilian Limeade recipe combines the refreshing tartness of seedless Persian limes with the sweet creaminess of sweetened condensed milk, resulting in a balanced and delicious flavor profile. It's a harmonious blend of sweet and tangy.
- Texture: The limeade has a smooth and slightly creamy texture, thanks to the addition of sweetened condensed milk. It's blended with ice cubes to make it cold, refreshing, and slightly slushy.
- Method: The recipe involves blending quartered seedless Persian limes with cold water and ice until smooth. The mixture is then strained to remove any solids, and sweetened condensed milk is added, creating a creamy and well-incorporated beverage. It's a straightforward process that yields a delightful Brazilian Limeade.
Brazilian Limeade Ingredients
Note: The full ingredients list is provided in the recipe card below.
- Seedless Persian limes: These are the key ingredients in this recipe, providing the tart and citrusy flavor. Persian limes have thin, smooth green skin and are usually seedless, making them perfect for blending.
- Water: Cold water is used to dilute the lime juice and create the limeade base
- Sweetened condensed milk: This is a thick and sweet dairy product made by removing most of the water from milk and adding sugar. It gives the limeade a rich and creamy texture and balances out the tartness of the lime juice.
- Ice cubes: The ice is used to chill the limeade and refresh it.
Tools you'll need
How to Make Brazilian Limeade
Note: The full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
Place the quartered limes in the blender along with the water and ice. Blend on high speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the lemonade mixture through a metal strainer over the large pitcher and press the solids to extract all liquid; discard the solids. Add the sweetened condensed milk and mix well until completely incorporated. Pour the Brazilian Limeade into a serving glass and serve immediately. Add more ice to the Brazilian Limeade if desired. Enjoy!
Substitutions
- Limes: If you can't find Persian limes, use regular limes instead. However, remember that regular limes may be more bitter than Persian limes, so you may need to adjust the amount of sweetened condensed milk to balance the flavors.
- Water: You can adjust the amount of water used depending on your preference for the strength of the lime flavor.
- Sweetened condensed milk: If you prefer a lighter version of the limeade, you can use unsweetened condensed milk or substitute it with regular milk or a plant-based milk alternative such as almond or coconut milk. In this case, you may need to add more sugar or a sweetener to the recipe.
- Ice cubes: If you don't have enough ice, you can partially freeze some of the lime juice and water mixture beforehand to use as ice cubes.
Variations
- Coconut Limeade: Add coconut milk or cream to the recipe for a tropical twist on the classic limeade.
- Mint Limeade: Add some fresh mint leaves to the blender with the limes for a refreshing and cooling drink.
- Strawberry Limeade: Add some fresh or frozen strawberries to the blender with the limes for a fruity and sweet twist on the classic limeade.
- Pineapple Limeade: Add some fresh pineapple chunks to the blender with the limes for a tropical and sweet variation.
How to Serve
Brazilian Limeade is typically served over ice in tall glasses. To serve, pour the limeade into a glass filled with ice cubes, and optionally, garnish with a slice of lime or a sprig of fresh mint. Add a splash of coconut rum or another spirit for an adult drink. Brazilian Limeade is best served immediately after making, as it may turn bitter over time. However, if you need to make it, store it in the fridge for a few hours and stir it before serving. It's a perfect drink for hot summer, barbecues, and pool parties. Enjoy!
How to Store
Brazilian Limeade is best enjoyed immediately after making, as the lime juice may turn bitter over time. However, if you have leftovers, you can store the limeade in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Before serving, stir the limeade, as the condensed milk may settle to the bottom of the container.
Make-Ahead
While Brazilian Limeade is best enjoyed fresh, you can make the lime juice mixture ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you're ready to serve. To do so, blend the limes, water, and ice in a blender as instructed in the recipe, but omit the sweetened condensed milk. Pour the lime juice mixture into a covered container and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When you're ready to serve, mix the sweetened condensed milk and ice cubes and blend well until everything is fully combined. This will help keep the limeade fresh and prevent it from turning bitter.
Tips for Making The Best Brazilian Limeade
- Use fresh, ripe limes: The quality of the limes you use will greatly affect the taste of the limeade. Look for firm and heavy limes for their size, with bright and glossy skin.
- Remove the white membrane: Remove the white membrane inside the lime wedges, as it can add bitterness to the limeade.
- Adjust the sweetness to your liking: The amount of sweetened condensed milk you use will affect the sweetness of the limeade. Feel free to adjust the amount based on your taste preference.
- Use a metal strainer: When straining the limeade mixture, use a metal strainer to ensure that all solids are removed and the limeade is smooth.
- Serve immediately: Brazilian Limeade is best served immediately after making, as the lime juice may turn bitter over time. Serve over ice for maximum refreshment.
FAQ
Can I use regular lemons instead of limes?
While you can use regular lemons instead of limes, the limeade taste will differ, as lemons are more acidic and tart than limes. You may need to adjust the amount of sweetened condensed milk to balance the flavors.
Can I make the limeade ahead of time?
While you can make the limeade beforehand, mixing in the sweetened condensed milk and ice cubes just before serving for the best taste and texture is best.
Can I use unsweetened condensed milk instead of sweetened condensed milk?
You can use unsweetened condensed milk, but you'll need to add sugar or another sweetener to the recipe to achieve the desired sweetness.
How can I adjust the recipe to make it less sweet?
You can reduce the sweetened condensed milk in the recipe to make it less sweet. You can also adjust the water used to dilute the lime juice to make the drink less sweet and tarter.
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📋 Recipe
How to Make Brazilian Limeade
Ingredients
- 4 Seedless Persian limes , washed, cut both ends, and cut them into 8 wedges with the skin *(make sure to remove the white membrane line from inside with your knife, that’s where most of the bitterness).
- 4 cups of cold water * (If you prefer it more diluted, add more water)
- 1 (14 oz) can sweeten condensed milk
- 2 cup ice cubes. plus more for serving
Instructions
- Place the quartered limes in the blender along with the water and ice. Blend on high speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the lemonade mixture through a metal strainer over the large pitcher and press the solids to extract all liquid; discard the solids. Add the sweetened condensed milk and mix well until completely incorporated. Pour the Brazilian Limeade into a serving glass and serve immediately. Add more ice to the Brazilian Limeade if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
