Cooking From the Glossies: Basil Limeade Slushies
My cousin who lives in Flushing has the luxury of a backyard that's grown to become about fifty percent garden, one hundred percent fun times. This leads to an inevitable feast (or famine, if they're not ripe yet) of zucchini, thyme, pears, and countless other crops. So, the basil limeade slushies from the August 2009 issue of Food & Wine struck me as a convenient way to use up some of the enormous bounty of basil stashed in her fridge.
I followed the recipe to the letter, tasted the result, and my face immediately puckered. Even after doubling the amount of sugar, a fellow taster still found them too tart! Seriously. Next time, I'll have to use Splenda. Besides being overly tart, the mixture was too strong and definitely not slushy enough. I wanted it to be almost smoothie-like, similar to Slurpees at 7-11, and what I initially had was very liquid in consistency. So add more ice, soda water, and sugar, and you're all set for a supremely refreshing slushie. Sadly, I made these around 7:30 a.m. so I couldn't add alcohol (unless I wanted to come to work drunk), but the flavors would make perfect partners with tequila.
Basil Limeade Slushies
- serves 4 -
Adapted from Food & Wine.
Ingredients
5 cups ice
1 cup water
1 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup lightly packed basil leave, plus basil sprigs, for garnish
1 cup sugar
1 cup soda water
Procedure
1. In a blender, blend all the ingredients until slushy.
2. Pour the limeade into chilled glasses and garnish with basil sprigs.
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4 Comments:
That sounds awful...but I will say the very best drink I ever had was a muddled basil, lime, gin concoction. Light on the basil, with just a hint of its complexity, and the refreshing lime without undue tartness. I don't usually like mixed drinks, but I've gone back to this restaurant a few times just for this one drink.
Dcarl1 at 12:08PM on 08/06/09
you had me until you said splenda. i may never trust you again.
gastronomeg at 12:37PM on 08/06/09
I've never really been a big fan of herbs in drinks -- even mint in mojitos -- I just don't get the fascination with adding greenery to a drink.
I'd much rather have my limade basil-less, but full of gin!
juliebugsmama at 12:41PM on 08/06/09
Well, it *looks* refreshing and very green. Maybe it's just one of those drinks that sounds better than it is?
leeber at 3:05PM on 08/06/09