Strawberry Mint Shrub Recipe
Strawberry Mint Shrub refreshingly light and perfect for those hot days when you don't want anything too heavy or sweet.
Equipment
- Kitchen scales
- Glass bowl
- Chopping board and knife
- Large saucepan
- Long-handled spoon for stirring
- Potato masher
- Ladle
- Strainer
- Funnel
- Clean, sterilised glass jar/bottle with sealable lids
Ingredients
- 350 g frozen strawberries
- 300 - 350 g sugar
- 350 ml apple cider vinegar
- ¼ mint leaves
Instructions
- Rinse the mint leaves, and let them drain off excess water.
- Lightly bruise the leaves with the clean bottom of a knife (carefully), and roughly chop them up.
- In a medium bowl, mix the frozen strawberries and sugar until the sugar is fully combined with the berries. Cover the bowl and let sit, at room temperature for 1 hour, or in the refrigerator overnight.
- Add the strawberry and sugar mixture, with the vinegar and mint to the saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. Stir from time to time.
- Use the potato masher to break down any remaining berries, and to further bruise the mint.
- After 15-20 minutes of simmering, or when it starts to take on a syrupy consistency, take it off the heat.
- Strain out all solids using a fine mesh strainer into a clean jug.
- Using the funnel, pour the shrub into an airtight jar/bottle, let it cool and store it in your refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. Or you can freeze it for up to 4 months for extended enjoyment. Serve chilled over ice or use it as an ingredient in summer cocktails!
Notes
TIPS
1. You can use frozen or fresh strawberries for this recipe. For fresh ones, make sure that they are really good and ripe. Wash and hull them then quarter. Leave to macerate in the sugar for longer than with the frozen berries, so that they start to break down. Then proceed with the rest of the recipe. 2. Select the ripest mint leaves, from the tops of the stems, for a more aromatic fresh taste. 3. Bruise the mint leaves to encourage the release of the oils which impart more flavour to the mixture. Make sure to garnish drinks with some fresh mint leave too.Customize strawberry mint shrub to your taste
Adjust the ratio of strawberries to mint:
Depending on how strong you want the flavour, you can adjust the proportion of strawberries to mint in your shrub recipe. Adding more berries will give it a sweeter, fruitier taste while more mint will add more of a herbaceous, fresh undertone.Change up the vinegar type:
Instead of apple cider vinegar, try using white wine or rice wine vinegar for a change. These kinds of vinegar are milder than ACV but still acidic enough(5% acetic acid) to preserve your shrub properly. But you can also go all out with white balsamic vinegar, or fruit vinegar with a complimentary flavour e.g. raspberry vinegar (as long as the basic acidity requirements are met).Spice it up with some heat:
Add a pinch (or two) of cayenne pepper or red chilli flakes for an unexpected kick! Not only does this spice things up but it’ll also enhance all of those delicious berry flavours!Sweetening ways
Once you taste-test the shrub, you may want to add some honey, or maple syrup, for another level of flavour. It adds both sweetness and body which helps balance out that tartness from the vinegar even further by adding richness to each sip! You can try 0.75 cups of honey instead of sugar in the recipe and see if that meets your needs. Use brown sugar, coconut sugar or other sweeteners for taste and calorie variation.Add other fruits & herbs:
You can top off your strawberry mint shrub recipe by substituting some of the strawberries with other fruits like raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries. Or, go for a different flavour by using herbs like basil, rosemary or thyme instead of mint. Happy experimenting and bon appétit!A few of the many ways to use strawberry mint shrub
1. Mix it with sparkling water for a refreshing, sparkling summer drink. **1-2 tablespoons of a shrub to a regular glass of sparkling(or still) water. 2. Use the shrub to make a delicious strawberry mint margarita – perfect for warm summer nights! 3. Combine equal parts of shrub and Greek yoghurt to create a tangy yet sweet fruit dip that’s great with apples or other seasonal fruits. 4. Create an innovative twist on classic mojitos by using strawberry mint shrub instead of the usual lime juice/simple syrup combination in your favourite recipe. 5. Add just enough of the shrub mixture to lemonade or tonic water to give it an unexpected hint of fruity flavour without overpowering sweetness. 6. Add a dash of the strawberry shrub to salad dressings, marinades, meat glazes and other sauces for an interesting burst of flavour!Nutrition
Calories: 1534kcalCarbohydrates: 379gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 25mgPotassium: 802mgFiber: 7gSugar: 368gVitamin A: 53IUVitamin C: 206mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 2mg
Nutritional Disclaimer
All nutritional information is an estimate only, based on third-party calculations derived from an online nutritional calculator, Spoonacular API. The data provided is a courtesy and should not be considered a guarantee or fact. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients and brands you use, your measuring methods and portion sizes. For accurate results, we recommend that you calculate the nutritional information yourself, using a preferred nutritional calculator or advice from a nutritionist, based on your ingredients and individual processes.
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