Starfruit Alchemy: Make Star Studded Syrups And Purees For Home Mixology
Tropical cocktails are more often than not prepared by infusing them with a fruity touch in the form of fruit chunks, juices and purees. These fresh, seasonal ingredients lend drinks bright colours and a sweet and citrusy flavour profile which is a suitable alternative in warm, summer weather. And one such fruity and tropical ingredient which is used to build summertime drinks is the starfruit.
Complete with a pulpy interior and a sweet yet crisp taste, starfruits or carambolas can be incorporated into drinks in the form of simple purees and syrups to infuse their flavours in tropical blends.
From a starfruit daiquiri infused with sweet puree and a hint of lime juice to a tropical fizz complete with starfruit syrup and 30 ml Ciroc Ultra Premium Vodka or any other premium vodka of choice, a number of blends can be concocted using this fruit as the base.
For home mixologists, mastering the art of making starfruit puree can come in handy while blending such seasonal, tropical daiquiris, rum punches and spritzers complete with indigenous, tiki-like flavours. Here’s a simple recipe to prepare such a starfruit puree at home:
Ingredients:
3 – 4 ripe starfruits
1 – 2 tablespoons simple syrup or honey
Splash of lime juice
Method:
— Wash and slice 3-4 starfruits and deseed them to make a smooth puree. Next, blend the starfruits until smooth. Add just a splash of water to the blender if the starfruits feel a little chunky. For a more silky texture, strain the starfruit using a sieve or a fine mesh strainer or a muslin cloth. After the puree is ready, add about 1 to 2 tablespoons of simple syrup or honey and just a splash of lime juice to introduce slightly sweet and tangy flavours in the fruit puree.
Such an easy-to-make, homemade puree can be used to infuse more pronounced flavours of the starfruit in varied cocktail and mocktail blends. Where starfruit syrups come in handy is in those drinks which require only a very subtle hint of the tropical ingredient that nonetheless spreads through the whole blend to lend it a very tiki-like, summertime vibe.
Here is a simple recipe to prepare such a simple starfruit syrup at home which can be useful for an amateur mixologist attempting to blend complex, tropical mixes:
Ingredients:
4 – 5 ripe starfruits (those which are yellow with light brown edges are preferred)
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon lime juice or ginger slice for added flavours
Method:
– Wash 4 – 5 ripe starfruits that are slightly yellowed, with light brown edges and slice them thinly, removing all seeds. Next, in a saucepan, add 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water and allow this mixture to simmer.
Add the chopped starfruits to the syrup and stir occasionally. When the ingredients come to a boil, add 1 teaspoon lime juice for bright, citrusy flavours. Or, add a slice of ginger to introduce a spicy zing into the recipe, depending upon your flavour preferences.
Once the fruit and syrup mixture is entirely cooked, take it off the flame and allow it to cool. Strain the syrup using a sieve so it yields a smooth, crisp and fruity mix which can be bottled and stored to prepare drinks infused with starfruit flavours.
Such a simple starfruit syrup can be used in the preparation of flavoured mojitos, spritzers and other coolers complete with the flavours of tropical ingredients like grapefruit soda or lime juice. Use spirits like 30 ml Don Julio Blanco Tequila or any other premium tequila of choice or even 30 ml Tanqueray No. 10 Gin or any other premium gin of choice to prepare bright blends infused with starfruit syrup. Adding this infusion to cocktail mixes will build a crisper and sweeter flavour note in drinks, that becomes all the more pronounced when summertime drinks are topped off with sparkling water or club soda.
Also Read: Starfruit Drink Pairings: 5 Appetisers To Pair With The Cocktail
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
