Spiced Strawberry Syrup ( and Shrub Recipe)

Submitted by zeldaz51

"Adapted from a Saveur recipe. It is spicy, but the combination of heat and sweet fruit is ambrosial; use half the spices if you are nervous about the heat level. Save the macerated strawberries to use in smoothies, a sweet fruit salsa for topping ice cream or cake, or use it to make some jam (I put the drained pulp right back into the pan I use to cook the syrup, add a little water, Triple Sec, citrus juice, and cook it down until it's thick and sets when tested on a cold plate). Shrubs are old-time summer drinks made with vinegar, fruit juice, water, and sugar, incredibly refreshing with mild acidity and sweetness. This is NOT a canning recipe! NOTE: A shallow saucepan will evaporate more liquid, but this mixture will foam up and OVERFLOW a shallow pan when brought to a boil, so either keep right on top of it or use a deeper pan."

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Yields: 2 cups, approximately

ingredients

• 2 lbs organic strawberries, washed and hulled (about 2 quarts)
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 1⁄4 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 thick slice fresh ginger (3/4-inch)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red chile flakes (to taste, I use half-teaspoons of the spices)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon szichuan peppercorn (to taste)

directions

1. 1. Working in batches, pulse berries in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a bowl and stir in sugar, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, and salt. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
2. 2. Strain juices into a 2-qt. saucepan; reserve fruit for another use. Add ginger, chile flakes, and peppercorns to juice mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook until thick and syrupy, 30-35 minutes. Skim off any surface scum about halfway through the cooking. Stir in remaining lemon juice and let syrup cool to room temperature. Strain out spices and store in the refrigerator up to 1 week.

3. TO MAKE A SHRUB:

4. Combine 4 to 6 tablespoons of the syrup with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar in a tall, ice-filled glass; top with sparkling water.