It’s been a little while since I’ve been on a ginger bender and I thought with the holidays coming up, it was the perfect time to fall off the wagon. In the past, whenever I’ve made ginger lemonade I’ve done so using homemade ginger syrup. That’ll continue to be my standard, but using crystallized ginger instead is a great way to make a couple quick ginger-spiked drinks without the lengthy wait or if you want a sugar-free drink.
I have the Neely’s to thank for this little trick. Although I didn’t actually make anything from their cookbook, I was definitely inspired by the use of crystallized ginger in their Pucker-Up Lemon-Limeade. I used stevia in this drink, since I’ve been burning through sugar like a madwoman the past couple weeks, but feel free to use whatever sweetener you like. And if you’re feeling naughty, this would also make a great boozy lemonade.
Spicy and Sweet Ginger Lemonade
Yield: 3-4 servings
Ingredients:
1/2 cup lemon juice
3 1/2 cups cold water
1/4 cup crystallized ginger
stevia or sugar to taste
lemon slices for garnish, optional
Directions:
Combine the lemon, water and crystallized ginger in a blender and process until smooth. Add stevia or sugar to taste. Serve over ice.