Rhubarb and Basil Spritzer
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Author Notes: I'm just back from a fabulous day spent preserving and canning rhubarb creations at Mrs. Wheelbarrow's beautiful home with other Food52 peeps, including our fearless leader Amanda. As per usual with a Food 52 event, the food was amazing and plentiful: homemade cheeses by SallyCan, frittata, salads, homemade sausages by the Charcutepalooza Queen herself, and other spreads, pickles and preserves....and the desserts! There was plenty to choose from. Yours truly was in charge of beverages, and I wanted something light and refreshing. I have had strawberry and basil cocktails before, but the theme of the day was Rhubarb - so here is my take on a Rhubarb and Basil Cocktail. They're refreshing and light as promised, not too sweet, and you can booze them up or down or not at all according to your preference. - Burnt Offerings
Serves rhubarb puree makes about 3 cups, directions are for one drink with puree
- 4 cups fresh, chopped rhubarb pieces
- 3/4 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 basil leaves - chiffonade
- 1 1/2 ounce citron vodka (or as much or little vodka as you like)
- seltzer water
- Place the rhubarb, sugar and water in a large pot with a lid. Bring to a boil, and simmer gently for 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly, then pour into a blender, or use an immersion blender right in the pot and puree the rhubarb mixture until smooth.
- Strain the rhubarb puree in a fine mesh strainer over a bowl to remove any fibrous bits of rhubarb. Pour puree into a jar and refrigerate.
- To make a cocktail. Chiffonade a few basil leaves and add them to a tall glass with ice. Muddle them a little.
- Pour in the desired amount of vodka.
- Fill glass almost to the top with seltzer, leaving room for the rhubarb puree.
- Place 2-3 tablespoons of puree in the glass and mix well with a zwizzle stick.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Soda Fountain Recipe
Tags: cocktails, refreshing, rhubarb, Spring
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almost 2 years ago Sagegreen
This is lovely!
almost 2 years ago wssmom
This is amazingly lovely!
almost 2 years ago gingerroot
Love this, Linda! If I ever spot some rhubarb here (more difficult than you'd think) I'm making myself one of these.
almost 2 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Yum, and I'm really envious!
almost 2 years ago Preta75
Ohh, this sounds so delicious. I just pulled some rhubarb today, I'm going to make this and I can't wait to try it.
almost 2 years ago Burnt Offerings
If it's even half as hot where you are as it is here in Baltimore today (mid 90's!!) - it will be a lovely Memorial Day refresher.
almost 2 years ago Lizthechef
Sounds like a wonderful gathering - and your drink looks perfect for summer get-togethers!
almost 2 years ago Burnt Offerings
It was an absolutely lovely day. Mrs. Wheelbarrow was a terrific host and instructor, and the drink was lovely. I really liked the basil with it instead of mint,
almost 2 years ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Sounds delicous!