Check out this asian pear sparkler

zainab quadri

July 30, 2015 4:11 PM

This would make a lovely, non-alcoholic option for a cocktail party.

Ingredients

1 cup freshly pressed Asian pear juice*

1 teaspoon lemon juice

3/4 cups honey

1/4 cup sugar

1 (4-inch) sprig fresh rosemary

1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into coins

Small grating of fresh nutmeg

Ice

Soda water

Directions

Combine pear juice, lemon juice, honey, sugar, rosemary, ginger, and nutmeg in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring to dissolve the sugars.

Remove from heat and let stand 30 minutes. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer and discard the solids. Let syrup cool completely.

To serve, fill an 8-ounce glass halfway with ice cubes, add 3 tablespoons of syrup, fill with soda water, and stir. Add more syrup for a sweeter or stronger flavor.

*Note: Use the most flavorful Asian pear you can find; Hosui is a consistently sweet variety. Making 1 cup of juice requires about 1 (12-ounce) pear, peeled and cored. If using a juicer, follow manufacturer's instructions to extract the juice and discard the pulp. If using blender or food processor, puree the pear until smooth, strain through a fine-mesh strainer, and discard the solids. If you wind up with a little less than 1 cup, top it off with water.

zainab quadri