Zesty Pear-Ginger Shrub Recipe
A vibrant and refreshing beverage combining the subtle sweetness of pear, the zesty kick of ginger, and the tang of apple cider vinegar, served over sparkling club soda for an enlivening sipper.
Ingredients
- 3 medium ripe pears peeled
- 1/4 cup fresh ginger peeled and thinly sliced or grated
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- club soda for serving
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the diced pears, sliced ginger, granulated sugar, and water. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it gently simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the pears are very soft and the syrup has thickened slightly.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool completely. Once cool, stir in the apple cider vinegar.
- Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bottle or jar, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
- Seal the bottle or jar and refrigerate the pear-ginger shrub syrup for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.
- To serve, fill a glass with ice. Add 2-3 tablespoons of the shrub syrup (adjust to your taste) and top with club soda. Stir gently and enjoy immediately.
Notes
For an extra kick, add a pinch of black peppercorns or a cinnamon stick to the syrup while simmering. This shrub syrup is also fantastic as a mixer for cocktails or mocktails. Store the finished syrup in an airtight bottle in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks.