Description
This spicy Thai basil mocktail is perfectly refreshing with the right balance of sweet and heat! Add it to your Thai-inspired dinner party menu, or make this non-alcoholic beverage for a hot summer day!
Equipment
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the simple syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups water, divided
- 2–3 Thai spur chilies, sliced
For the cucumber juice:
- 1 large cucumber
- 1/2 cup packed Thai basil leaves
For the mocktail:
- 6oz cucumber juice
- 1.5oz simple syrup
- 3oz non-alcoholic gin, tequila, or vodka
- Juice of 1 lime
- Thai basil leaves and Thai chilies for garnish
Instructions
- Make the spicy simple syrup. Add 1 cup of water and sugar to a small saucepan and whisk until sugar is dissolved. Slice 2-3 Thai spur chilies (see notes for a spicier simple syrup), reserving a few slices of chilies for garnish. Add the sliced chilies to the pot, then bring to a boil. Let the simple syrup simmer for 5-10 minutes until all sugar is dissolved, the color has deepened to an amber hue, and the mixture has thickened slightly. Remove from the heat, strain into a glass jar with a lid, and let cool to room temperature.
- Make the cucumber juice. If you have a juicer, you can use this to make cucumber juice. Or you can use a blender: chop the cucumber and add to a blender with 1 cup of water. Blend until smooth, then strain out the pulp using a fine mesh strainer. Set aside.
- Blanch the Thai basil. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Separately, prepare a bowl of ice water. Blanch the Thai basil leaves in the boiling water for 1 minute, then transfer to the ice water. Once cooled, transfer the Thai basil to the blender and pour in the cucumber juice. Blend again until smooth, then pass through a fine mesh strainer again. Store in a glass jar with a lid.
- Mix the cocktail. Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Then add cucumber juice, infused simple syrup, non-alcoholic gin, and lime juice. Shake, then strain into two martini glasses. Garnish with Thai basil leaves and a few slices of chilies. 🌶
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drink
- Calories: 164
- Sugar: 13.4 g
- Sodium: 3.9 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 17.8 g
- Protein: 1.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg