Cucumber Ginger Syrup Recipes

CUCUMBER AGUA FRESCA WITH MINT AND GINGER

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the mint leaves, sugar and salt, and crush them all together using a fork or the back of a wooden spoon just until the mint is bruised. Pour in the hot water, and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve. Allow the mixture to steep for 5 minutes while you prepare the cucumbers.
• Combine the cucumbers and ginger in a blender. Zest the lime right over the blender, then halve it and squeeze in its juice. Pour in 1 cup room-temperature water and purée on high until smooth. Pour the purée through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing lightly on the solids with a spatula to extract the liquid. Discard the solids and pour the agua fresca into a medium pitcher.
• Pour the mint syrup through the same strainer into a container, pressing on the leaves to extract the liquid. Add ¼ cup strained syrup to the agua fresca. Taste and add more syrup or more lime juice to taste. Cover any leftover syrup and refrigerate for another use.
• Fill glasses with ice, pour in the agua fresca, garnish with mint and serve immediately.

CUCUMBER-BASIL SYRUP

Steps:

• Remove ends of the cucumbers and discard. Slice cucumbers very finely. Toss in a bowl with the salt and set aside for a few minutes until the salt has drawn out a good amount of liquid.
• Drain cucumbers in a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl. Squeeze them a little but not too much. Measure out 1 cup and discard the rest.
• Muddle the basil and add it to the cucumber liquid. Let it steep in the fridge for 2 hours.
• Strain liquid into a saucepan, squeezing basil well to extract any liquid. Stir in sugar and bring to a boil, then add lemon juice and reduce heat. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the temperature on a candy thermometer reaches 212 degrees F (100 degrees C), stirring once in a while.
• Let cool slightly, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a glass bottle and let cool. Seal tightly and refrigerate.

CUCUMBER GINGER SYRUP

Steps:

• Place cucumber in a small bowl with fresh ginger. Add hot Simple Syrup; cover and let stand 30 minutes.
• Strain mixture through a sieve; discard solids.

SPICE-INFUSED SIMPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• Bring sugar, 1 cup water, the peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon stick, star anise, and zest to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. For milder flavor, remove star anise, and discard; simmer 10 minutes more. Remove from heat. Let cool completely. Pour through a sieve into a bowl; discard solids. Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month. Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.