Prickly Pear Lemonade

Create the Prickly Pear Syrup

• Add 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of water to the saucepan with the chopped fruit.
• Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves.
• Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 15 minutes. As it cooks, use a potato masher to break down the fruit and release its juices.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat. Position a fine-mesh sieve over a heatproof bowl and pour the mixture through it.
• Press the solids firmly with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the pulp and seeds.
• Allow the syrup to cool completely to room temperature, which can take about 30 minutes.

Mix the Lemonade

• In a large pitcher, combine the cooled prickly pear syrup, 1 cup of fresh lemon juice, and the remaining 4 cups of cold water.
• Stir thoroughly until the syrup is fully incorporated into the lemonade.
• Taste the lemonade and adjust sweetness if necessary. You can add a bit more sugar or a splash more water depending on your preference.

Serve and Garnish

• Fill four tall glasses with ice cubes.
• Pour the prepared prickly pear lemonade over the ice.
• Garnish each glass with a fresh mint sprig and a thin lemon slice before serving immediately.