Watermelon & Ginger Spritzer

The Foodies' KitchenAugust 17, 2018

This post is also available in / Esta entrada también está disponible en ESPAÑOL (SPANISH)

This recipe for watermelon spritzer has a different touch, that nobody will expect. It is sweetened with a ginger and basil syrup that gives it a special and delicious flavor. This type of drink is called a mocktail, since it has the ingredients that would be used to make a cocktail, but in this case, it does not have alcohol.

They are ideal for occasions where you want to serve something special, but that it can’t have alcohol, such as a baby shower or a kid’s party beverage for the grownups.

The syrup that is used to sweeten the drink is very easy to make, just mix the ingredients and let them boil gently, for 30 minutes in total. Remember to cover the pot so that the liquid does not evaporate and cook at low temperature.

To serve our delicious drink, we found this set of glasses and pitcher at Almacenes Siman, the pitcher is very convenient because it has a lid so that it can be stored in the refrigerator. If it is going to be served at home, it looks great on this wooden tray that can also be found in the store. We also got an app serving dish, that we used for olives, cheese and crackers.

Helga & Kitty

Watermelon Ginger Spritzer

Adapted from Kitchen Konfidence
Yields: 6 to 8 glasses

Ingredients:
6 cups cubed seedless watermelon
½ cup ginger-basil syrup
1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 cup cold sparkling water
Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
Ice cubes, for serving

Ingredients for Ginger-Basil Syrup:
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
2-oz. fresh ginger, sliced
1 teaspoon black peppercorn
8 fresh basil leaves

Procedure:

To make the ginger-basil syrup: In a small pot with a lid, place the water, sugar, black peppercorn and ginger and let it come to a boil. Reduce the heat, put the lid on and let is simmer for 20 minutes. Add the basil leaves and let it simmer for 10 minutes more. Set aside to cool, and then strain it.
To make the spritzer: Place cubed watermelon in a blender, and process until smooth, working in batches if needed. Pour mixture through a strainer into a large, clean pitcher. Discard any solids caught in the strainer.
Add Ginger-Basil Syrup and lime juice, stirring to combine. Sample the mixture, and add more syrup or lime juice to taste if you think it needs tweaking. Stir in the sparkling water, slowly so you don’t lose the bubbles.
To serve, pour into a short glass over ice, and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Have you made this recipe?

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and share a picture with the hashtag #thefoodieskitchen!

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