For those seeking a delightful and revitalizing sugar-free beverage, the Keto Brazilian Lemonade recipe offers a unique twist on a classic drink. Requiring only a handful of simple ingredients, this easy-to-make treat is perfect for warm summer days or any time you crave a refreshing, guilt-free indulgence.
What is Brazilian Lemonade?
Brazilian Lemonade, also known as Limonada Suíça, is a popular drink that’s a delightful blend of creamy, citrusy, and sweet flavors. Traditional Brazilian Lemonade, or Limonada Suíça, is traditionally made with lime pieces, including the peels, sugar, water. The ingredients are blended together and strained, then served over ice. It seems odd to call this lime drink a lemonade, haha, but the reason for this is because limes are essentially the same citrus fruit as lemons in Brazil. All the “lemons” possess the dark green color we identify as limes in other parts of the world. Also, the word for both lemons and limes in the Portuguese language is the same word- limão. Despite its name, this "lemonade" is actually made with limes. This may seem odd, but in Brazil, limes are often referred to as "limão," which translates to "lemon." The drink gains its unique character from the use of whole limes, including the peel, which are blended with sweetened condensed milk, water, and ice. The result is a creamy, frothy beverage that's both sweet and tangy.
The Keto Adaptation
This recipe puts a keto-friendly spin on the traditional Brazilian Lemonade by swapping out the sugar and sweetened condensed milk with sugar-free alternatives. This allows those following a ketogenic diet to enjoy this refreshing drink without compromising their dietary goals.
Ingredients for Keto Brazilian Lemonade
The Keto Brazilian Lemonade Recipe is a delightfully refreshing sugar-free beverage. Only 4 simple ingredients required to make this easy keto friendly drink! Here's what you'll need:
- Limes: The star of the show! Choose limes that are slightly soft but not too squishy. Those are the limes that will be the juiciest. The heavier the lime, the more juice it contains. Take a whiff, if you scratch the skin and it smells fragrant and lime-ish, it’s ripe. It’s the ol’ scratch-n-sniff test 🤗. Pick lighter, less green limes! Yes, you read that correctly- LESS green. If they are vibrant, dark green they aren’t quite ripe yet. More of a green-yellow lime is juicier, less tart with a sweeter, more limey flavor- possibly why Brazilian limes are known more as lemons! By the way, I’ve been picking the greenest limes until now 😆🤷🏻♀️. We’re all learning! The color should be uniform, meaning the whole lime should be pretty much the same greenish-yellow color. If the lime has some lighter spots than others, it’s most likely due to growing in shaded areas without enough sun exposure.
- Sugar-Free Condensed Milk: A crucial ingredient for achieving the creamy texture of traditional Brazilian Lemonade.
- Sweetener: To adjust the sweetness to your liking. A powdered sweetener like Swerve or erythritol works best.
- Water: To balance the flavors and achieve the desired consistency.
- Ice
Step-by-Step Instructions
This may be one of the easiest drinks you make all summer. Less than 10 minutes, start to finish! No arduous squeezing required! You simply blend sliced limes with the liquids and some additional sweetener, and then strain it. It’s remarkably simple.
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- Prepare the Limes: Wash the limes thoroughly. Cut off the ends of the limes, then cut the lime into wedges.
- Blend: Chop the limes into slices and place in a blender (preferably a good strong one!). Add the condensed milk, sweetener, and 2 cups of the water, and blend only about 15 to 30 seconds. Rest assured that the whole limes do not make the lemonade bitter. The trick, as I learned from Brazilian Kitchen Abroad, is to keep the blending very brief. Less than 30 seconds is about right. This method essentially infuses the liquids with lime flavor.
- Strain: Obviously you don’t want chunks of lime floating around your lemonade. So grab a strainer and set it over the serving pitcher, then pour the blended mixture through the strainer.
- Adjust and Serve: Stir in the remaining water. Adjust sweetness to taste and serve immediately.
Tips for the Perfect Keto Brazilian Lemonade
- Brief Blending: To avoid a bitter taste, blend the mixture for no more than 30 seconds.
- Freshness Matters: This drink is best enjoyed fresh, as the lime flavor can become more intense and potentially bitter over time.
- Adjust Sweetness: My homemade condensed milk is not nearly as sweet as the conventional version, so you want to add more sweetener to the mix. I found that another 1/3 cup of powdered Swerve was about right, but you can easily do this to taste.
- Make it Dairy-Free: Want a dairy free version of this Brazilian lemonade recipe? That’s easy too! Just make my keto condensed milk with coconut cream, and leave out the butter at the end. You could also use another plant milk, such as oat milk, cashew milk, or almond milk but I recommend sticking with coconut milk as I think it offers the best flavor combination with the lime and creates the creamiest lemonade consistency.
Variations
- Coconut Milk Version: For a dairy-free and tropical twist, substitute coconut milk for the sugar-free condensed milk. This Creamy Coconut Milk Brazilian Lemonade is such a refreshing drink that is made with just 3 ingredients (plus ice and water)!
- Add a Kick: For a cocktail version, consider adding Cachaça, a Brazilian Rum made with fresh sugar cane. We also use cachaça to make Brazil’s national cocktail, caipirinha, since it pairs so well with lime-it’s a must-try! Add 1 oz. per 8-oz. serving, so about 6 oz. in total for the whole batch. If you like something less strong, reduce the rum to 3 to 4 oz. Then just mix to combine and enjoy!
Why is it Called Lemonade?
Okay so why do they call it lemonade? Shouldn’t it be called Brazilian Limeade? For that, I refer you to a true Brazilian blogger over at Brazilian Kitchen Abroad. It would seem that the Portuguese words for lime and lemon are so close, it simply defaults to lemonade. Limão (lime) becomes limonada (the drink), which translates into lemonade. So lemonade is just the literal translation of limonada. To get even more specific, limes are called limão-taiti, which translates to “Tahitian lemon.” A lemon is called limão-siciliano, which I actually have a hard time finding when I go back to my home state of Minas Gerais. That's probably why we opt for limeade instead of what Americans know as lemonade. So, if a Brazilian recipe calls for limão, we’re most likely calling for limes. How’s that for your daily dose of Duolingo.
Serving Suggestions
This refreshing drink is best enjoyed right away. As mentioned above, this Brazilian Coconut Milk Lemonade is best enjoyed right away. I don’t foresee you having an issue finishing it all, haha but just in case you do, you could always make refreshing popsicles with leftover limeade! Simply pour into a popsicle mold and freeze. This Creamy Coconut Milk Brazilian Lemonade (Limeade) is a great non-alcoholic mocktail option for those who don’t consume alcohol, or a great refreshing summer drink to make your kids! Garnish with a slice of lime and enjoy. Pro tip: I suggest using a straw, but if you’re into a little foam mustache you can sip straight from the glass.
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