Gingerale with Cucumber
Rebujito
First, make the seltzer. I use a SodaStream.
Next up: 3 syrups. That's Jennifer behind me.
Before I create a new recipe, I like to sketch out the ingredients and ratios.
For the gingerale, I peeled and sliced ginger...
... and combined it with raw sugar and water in a pan.
For the vanilla egg cream, I scraped the seeds from half a vanilla bean, and added the bean, seeds....
... sugar, and water to a pan.
For the rebujito (sherry + lemon soda), I peeled 2 lemons and added the zest, sugar, and water to a pan.
Then I boiled all three syrups at the same time. I gave the ginger an extra 2 minutes of boiling time to break down the ginger (I also started it with a higher ratio of water so it would boil...
Next, I prepared the garnishes: cucumber for the gingerale and lemon for the rebujito. I have since tweaked the recipe and would add some cucumber to the seltzer about 10 minutes before making...
Adding fino sherry.
I am a good little student.
And now the lemon syrup.
For the egg cream, first the milk.
Then the vanilla syrup.
And then it was time to fill the glasses with homemade seltzer.
Gingerale with Cucumber
Vanilla Egg Cream
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Author Notes: I will buy tabletop goods until I'm bankrupt, but you can't get me to buy another countertop item. No toasters are allowed. No bread box. And certainly no knick knacks will be found on my counter. Just a workhorse mixer and the bare necessities: coffee maker, tea kettle, salt bowl, oil, and utensil jars (the last of which I'd usually banish to a hanging rack but I've let my guard down).
But then everyone was talking about seltzer. Kristen wrote this article on seltzer makers. And Jenny had this one in her home. I wanted spritzy, optimistic drinks like everyone else, and I really wanted to get rid of the box of cheap seltzer we always had lying around for me to trip over.
Just this once, I let in another countertop squatter: the SodaStream. We've been getting to know each other over the past few weeks. He's slim and unassuming. He doesn't require an outlet. And he's only noisy when swooshing air into tap water. My kids love him. My husband has a new toy. And I now have a small but burgeoning repertory of summer drinks.
- amanda
Makes 2 drinks (can easily be doubled)
- Three 4-inch-long slices English cucumber
- 2-inch piece ginger root, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup raw sugar
- Chilled seltzer
- Put one of the cucumber slices in the seltzer bottle. Let sit while you make the drink.
- Put the ginger, sugar, and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring if needed. Strain and let cool completely.
- Fill two tumblers halfway with ice. Add 3 tablespoons ginger syrup to each glass. Fill the glass with the seltzer -- and stir and taste as you go -- add just enough seltzer to make the drink as sweet and gingery as you like. Garnish each glass with a cucumber slice.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
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almost 2 years ago Burnt Offerings
This was off the hook good. Very refreshing on a hot day.
almost 2 years ago amanda
Amanda is a co-founder of Food52.
Glad you enjoyed it!
almost 2 years ago Sam1148
A question and comment: When you say put the cucumber slice in the bottle..is that before it's charged, or after? From the video's I've seen the opening on the bottles that use plastic are larger--the penguin model has a much smaller opening, like a normal soda bottle and it would difficult if not impossible to place a cucumber slice in there and remove it.
almost 2 years ago amanda
Amanda is a co-founder of Food52.
Ah, interesting. SodaStream bottles have a wide mouth. I meant post-charge. If you can't fit it then add the cucumber to the finished drink and nevermind doing this in-advance step.
almost 2 years ago Sam1148
Yes, My soda stream uses the glass bottles with narrow opening. Maybe 'muddling' cucumber in the glass would release more of the goodness for those without the wide mouth bottles. I love cucumber based drinks in the summer--so refreshing! Thank you so much for posting these, as summer time and club soda are wonderful!
almost 2 years ago Sam1148
I must try the ginger syrup. I'm surprised I haven't made it yet.
Also, that drink is begging for a shot of pimms cup #1.
almost 2 years ago foodtoglow
This sounds unique, and really interesting. I love 'normal' water with cucumber slices so this takes it up a notch. Sounds good for my chemo patients too. Thanks for posting.