Ingredients

Makes about 1 cup

　　3/4 cup sugar

　　Zest of 1 lime, removed in strips with a vegetable peeler

　　1/2 cup fresh lime juice

　　1/4 cup water

　　1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves

　　

Step 1

Bring the sugar, zest, juice, and water to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let syrup stand, uncovered, 15 minutes.

　　

Step 2

Discard the zest and transfer the syrup to a blender. Add the basil and blend 20 seconds. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve lined with a rinsed and squeezed paper towel into a bowl or glass measuring cup, then cool.

　　The Epicurious Cookbook