This Sunday’s guest is Sarah, a self-taught baker from Minneapolis, who writes the beautiful Vanilla Bean Blog. If you haven’t visited yet, I suggest heading over right away for stunning food photography, great stories, amazing recipes, and the most mouthwatering cakes. Now that spring is in full swing and the sun shines brighter, cooling drinks are on everyone’s mind and we are very excited for this delicious drink recipe. Here is Sarah:
Hello! I’m so happy to be posting at Golubka; it’s such a gorgeous space and I find it so inspiring and encouraging. Here in Minnesota we’ve been struggling to get to Spring (it’s been snowing for six months straight), and I thought a fizzy summer drink would help get things started. I’ve had ‘fruity-honey-drink’ on my to-do list for two summers now, because while I must admit I love drinking iced lattes and black tea lemonade, they are always made with too much sugar and I start to regret them. I wanted to come up with something that was refreshing and delicious, but didn’t contain a lot of sugar or caffeine. Since the only two things I can grow successfully is rhubarb and raspberries, I thought they would be a perfect place to start. After some tinkering, the rhubarb-raspberry fizz was born. It is a sweet-tart drink, with a small amount of honey balancing the sharp fruit. It’s incredibly tasty, and I’m looking forward to spending the (short) summer months sipping it.
Rhubarb Raspberry Fizz
Instead of simmering the rhubarb and raspberries with honey, I’ve added the honey to the warm juice after it’s been cooked and strained. I found this gave it a more ‘clean’ honey taste. I thought 2 tablespoons was the perfect amount – it still left a little bit of tartness to the drink. Feel free to add more if you’d like it sweeter. If you want to make the juice ahead, remember that honey will firm up in the fridge, and you will have to gently reheat the mixture to loosen the honey. Sugar could be substituted, although I would include it in the simmering stage. A tablespoon or two of minced ginger would be lovely here, and strawberries or blueberries would make a nice substitution for the raspberries. A splash of bourbon is also excellent! I made this with both straight up tap water and club soda, and liked it both ways.
12 ounces rhubarb, chopped into 1 inch pieces
4 ounces raspberries
1 vanilla bean pod, seeds scraped
2 cups water
8 tablespoons good honey (more or less to taste, see note)
water, club soda, ginger ale, or any other bubbly drink you think would be a good fit
Place the rhubarb, raspberries, vanilla bean seeds and pod, and water in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil, and then let simmer for 30 minutes until rhubarb is tender. Place the mixture in a strainer over a large bowl and press on the rhubarb and raspberries until all the juice is released (you should have about 2 cups). Discard the pulp. Divide the warm mixture equally between 4 glasses and stir 2 tablespoons honey into each glass (more or less to taste), making sure honey is dissolved. Let cool, and then add equal amounts water, club soda, or ginger ale to each glass (about 1/2 cup per glass). Top with ice, and serve.
Emma Galloway says
Lovely! Rhubarb and berries are awesome together. I adore Sarah’s work xx
Tina says
This photos are amazing and I just bought rhubarb at the market yesterday. Can’t wait to make this drink! Thank you.
thelittleloaf says
These photos are completely and utterly stunning!
Laura says
It’s drizzly rainy, cool and kind of grey here, but I still think I could drink about a litre of this by myself no problem. Rhubarb and raspberry has always been one of my favourite combinations. Lovely recipe and beautiful photos Sarah! :)
Kate says
Thank you for introducing me to my new favorite blog ;)
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Carmen Varner says
Wow! Looks and sounds fancy. A rhubarb drink, who woulda thunk it?
Robin says
It is my great pleasure to visit your website and to enjoy your excellent post here. I like that very much.
Ilhom says
yum yum yum yumI have been tempted by the rhburab at the farmers market each week but not bought any because I did not know what to do with it. Now I do!Cannot wait to try this.
Kristy says
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Gujjar says
You know how I feel about tacos. It’s the only food shaped like a smile. A beef smile. ~Danielle Sanchez-Witzel and Michael Pennie, My Name is Earl,
Molli
Miriam Hernandez says
That looks delicious!