Description
Make this crisp and refreshing sparkling water cooler using fresh cucumber and spicy ginger for a hydrating, non-alcoholic drink.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or sweetener of choice (optional)
- 4 cups chilled sparkling water
- Ice cubes
- Extra cucumber slices and mint sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the water, chopped ginger, and half of the sliced cucumber in a small saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and let it steep for 10 minutes to create a ginger-cucumber syrup base.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the sugar or sweetener until dissolved.
- Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing gently on the solids to extract the liquid. Discard the solids. Let the syrup cool completely in the refrigerator (about 30 minutes).
- In a large pitcher, combine the cooled syrup and the fresh lime juice.
- When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice. Add a few slices of the remaining fresh cucumber to each glass.
- Pour the syrup mixture into the glasses, filling each about one-quarter full.
- Top the glasses with chilled sparkling water. Stir gently.
- Garnish each drink with a fresh cucumber slice and a mint sprig.
Notes
- For a stronger ginger flavor, increase the amount of ginger used in the syrup base.
- If you prefer a sweeter drink, add more sugar to the syrup while it is still warm.
- You can infuse the remaining cucumber slices in the sparkling water for extra subtle flavor before mixing.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop Infusion
- Cuisine: General
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 11
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 0