Lemon Verbena Syrup Recipes

LEMON VERBENA SYRUP

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Add the lemon verbena leaves and cover the pan. Steep for 15 minutes.
• Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer, discard the leaves, and let cool. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Cherry Verbena Soda
• For one drink, fill a tall glass with ice. Add 1 tablespoon of the Lemon Verbena Syrup, 2 tablespoons of Sour Cherry Syrup , and a few dashes of acid phosphate or lemon juice or citric acid solution. Top with seltzer and mix gently. Garnish with lemon verbena leaves and maraschino cherries, if desired.

FRUIT IN LEMON-VERBENA SYRUP

Steps:

• Put fruit in a large bowl and gently toss with 1/2 cup sugar, then let stand 20 minutes.
• Rub verbena sprigs in your hands to bruise leaves and stems, then combine with water and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Simmer 1 minute, then remove from heat and let steep, covered, 5 minutes.
• Stir lemon juice into warm syrup and pour through a medium-mesh sieve over fruit. Discard verbena sprigs and gently stir fruit. Let macerate at room temperature 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Divide among 8 soup plates.

OLD-FASHIONED LEMON VERBENA LEMONADE SYRUP

Steps:

• Make the syrup by heating together the water, lemon zest and the sugar. Bring to a boil, take off the heat and allow to infuse until cold. Bring back to a boil and immediately add the lemon verbena leaves. Take off the heat and allow to infuse until cold.
• Strain the syrup in to a bottle or jar in the fridge until needed. Discard the lemon verbena leaves.
• To make Lemonade: Pour some syrup into a glass and add water to taste. Serve with ice and garnish with a lemon verbena leaf and a lemon slice.

LEMON VERBENA SYRUP

Steps:

• In large stainless-steel pot, combine the wine, water and sugar. Over medium heat, bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to a low boil and cook about 10 minutes, until the syrup reduces by half, to 3 cups. Remove from heat, stir in the lemon verbena leaves, cover pan halfway and let steep until cool.
• Transfer to a capped bottle or covered bowl and refrigerate, for as long as a week. Strain lemon verbena leaves from the chilled syrup before using it as a sweetener for lemonade or ice tea, as a base for a spritzer or as a topping for cut fresh fruit.

OLD FASHIONED LEMON BALM AND LEMON VERBENA LEMONADE SYRUP

Steps:

• Place the sugar, lemon halves and water into a saucepan and heat until the sugar has completely dissolved.
• Add the lemon verbena and lemon balm leaves and boil for 2 minutes; leave to cool. Add the citric or tartaric acid if using at this stage. Allow to cool and then cover and allow to infuse for 24 to 48 hours, depending on what strength you require. (I have left this for 3 days sometimes too, for a real lemon zing.).
• Sieve through a fine mesh or colander, discarding the lemon halves and the herb leaves - then pour into clean and sterile bottle/s; seal tightly and store in a cool dark place for several months or in the fridge for several weeks.
• To use: 1 part syrup to 4 parts water or sparkling water, to taste - add more for a stronger lemon flavour or less for a more delicate flavour. Add ice, a slice of lemon and some lemon balm or lemon verbena leaves as a garnish.

LEMON VERBENA BREAD

Steps:

• For the bread cream butter with verbena leaves in a mixer or food processor.
• Add sugar,eggs and milk and beat well.
• Add remaining ingredients and pulse a few times until blended.
• Grease loaf pans (1 large,2 small or 4 mini) and pour in batter.
• Bake at 350º for 30-45 minutes, depending on pan size, or until toothpick inserted in center of bread comes out clean.
• Leave loaf in pan and pour glaze over loaf while still hot.
• Let sit several hours.
• Remove loaf from pan.
• Wrap in foil to ripen overnight if you like, or serve when cool.
• You can also freeze this bread for later use.
• GLAZE: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tbsp fresh lemon verbena leaves,finely chopped, with the juice of one lemon.