Strawberry Vinegar Shrub Mocktail
Today I will be showing you how to make a shrub, which is a mixture of fruit, sugar, water and vinegar that is either cooked or marinated in the refrigerator to produce a delicious syrup. The syrup is then added to sparkling water to provide a refreshing mocktail to enjoy in the hot summer months.
I like making shrubs for a couple of reasons:
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Summer provides an abundance of fruit available at low prices and shrubs create another vehicle to enjoy that fruit.
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Mocktails are an easy way to cut back on alcohol intake without feeling deprived.
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Shrubs are a combination of added sugar but also contain the naturally occurring sugar in the fruit. So, you get a sweet taste without a lot of calories.
Why cut down on added sugar and alcohol? Because an excess of either one is associated with increased risk of numerous diseases. Let’s learn how to make a shrub so you can improve your health while also taking advantage of the incredible fresh & local fruit in abundance this time of year.
Recipe is inspired by FOOD52 — Makes 3 cups, serving size depends on your taste
INGREDIENTS
1-pound fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar
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METHOD
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Combine the water and sugar in a medium size saucepan.
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Cook and stir over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.
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Add the sliced strawberries and continue to cook until the syrup is a deep red color.
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Add the vinegars and continue to heat until it simmers then remove from the heat.
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Strain out the fruit and put the shrub in a glass container and refrigerate.
To make your mocktail, fill a glass with ice and add 1-2 ounces of shrub and fill the glass with sparkling water, stir and garnish with a lime wedge. You also can try lime flavored sparkling water.
LISA SAYS
This recipe contains both added sugar and naturally occurring sugar from the berries. The recommended intake of added sugar is 6 teaspoons a day for women and 9 teaspoons a day for men.