May 21, 2014

Basil Cucumber Mint Soda



A few summers back I fell in love with this combination of flavors in the form of a Cucumber Martini, and this time around, well it is as a fizzy drink!

This is a naturally refreshing drink with far less calories then a regular soda. I'm talking maybe 60 itsy bitsy little calories per one 12 oz drink. The idea here is that you make your own simple syrup and then add the basil, cucumber and the mint to the melted sugar and let it steep for about 30 minutes. This infuses all of these fabulous flavors into the sugar.


Here's what you will need...

1/2 large cucumber sliced thin
12 fresh mint leaves
6 fresh bail leaves
about 3 cups club soda or seltzer

...and this simple syrup recipe.
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c water

Heat both ingredients in a small saucepan and stir continuously until the sugar dissolves.

Here is what you need to do...

Remove syrup from the heat and then add cucumber, basil and mint and let sit for 30 minutes. Strain the simple syrup into a jar, pressing the solids in strainer. Fill six 12 oz glasses with ice. Add 2 T. of the simple syrup and then add the soda water.
Garnish with cucumber and mint.

And then sit back in your chair by the pool and enjoy!!!

XO


Trip Advisor