Sodas Recipe

Name: Winner Winner Courtenay Places SODAS Recipe
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 4 cups club soda or sparkling water; 0.5 cups granulated sugar; 0.5 cups water (for simple syrup); 2 tbs fresh lemon juice; 2 cups ice cubes; 1 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved; 12 to taste fresh mint leaves; 1 inch ginger, peeled and sliced; 0.5 cups fresh orange juice; 2 tbs fresh lime juice; 0.75 cups blueberry, fresh or frozen; 0.5 tsp vanilla extract; 2 tbs simple syrup flavored (optional - e.g., rosemary or basil); 4 slices citrus wheels (lemon, lime, or orange); 4 sprigs fresh herb sprigs (mint, rosemary, basil); 0.5 cups whole berries

Inspired by Winner Winner Courtenay Place

Time30m

Serves4

Make Sodas Recipe in just 30m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Classic Soda Base

4 cups club soda or sparkling water

1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cups water (for simple syrup)

2 tbs fresh lemon juice

2 cups ice cubes

Flavor Options (choose one or mix)

1 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved

12 to taste fresh mint leaves

1 inch ginger, peeled and sliced

1/2 cups fresh orange juice

2 tbs Fresh lime juice

3/4 cups blueberry, fresh or frozen

1/2 tsp Watkins vanilla extract

2 tbs simple syrup flavored (optional - e.g., rosemary or basil)

Garnish (optional)

4 slices citrus wheels (lemon, lime, or orange)

4 sprigs fresh herb sprigs (mint, rosemary, basil)

1/2 cups whole berries

Method

Classic Soda Base

Make simple syrup

Combine 0.5 cups granulated sugar and 0.5 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. If using a flavored simple syrup, add herbs (rosemary/basil) or sliced ginger to the syrup while it cools, then strain out solids.

Chill the club soda or sparkling water in the refrigerator so it's cold when assembling the sodas.

Fill four serving glasses with ice, dividing approximately 2 cups of ice among them (about 1/2 cup ice per glass if making 4 servings).

Flavor Options (choose one or mix)

Strawberry soda

Place 1 cup hulled strawberries and 1-2 tablespoons of the cooled simple syrup in a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth. Optional: pass through a fine mesh strainer for a clear soda. Add 2 tablespoons lemon juice to the puree and stir to combine. To each glass, add 2 tablespoons strawberry puree, then top with 1 cup chilled club soda. Stir gently.

Mint-lime soda

In a mortar and pestle or using the back of a spoon, gently muddle 3 mint leaves per glass with 1/2 tablespoon simple syrup and 1/2 tablespoon lime juice to release oils (do not shred leaves). Divide the muddled mixture among glasses. Add ice and top each with 1 cup chilled club soda. Stir gently and garnish with a mint sprig and a lime wheel.

Ginger soda

Make a quick ginger cordial by simmering the 1 inch sliced ginger in 1/4 cup water with 2 tablespoons sugar for 5 minutes, then strain and cool. Add 1-2 tablespoons ginger syrup per glass to taste, top with chilled club soda (about 1 cup), stir gently and garnish with a thin ginger slice or lemon wheel.

Orange-vanilla soda

Stir together 2 tablespoons of cooled simple syrup, 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add to glass with ice and top with 1 cup chilled club soda. Stir gently and garnish with an orange wheel.

Blueberry soda

In a small saucepan, simmer 0.75 cup blueberries with 2 tablespoons simple syrup for 3-4 minutes until they begin to burst. Mash lightly, then cool. Strain if you want a clear soda. Add 2 tablespoons blueberry syrup per glass, top with chilled club soda (about 1 cup), stir and garnish with a few whole blueberries.

Garnish (optional)

Add citrus wheels, whole berries, or herb sprigs to each glass as desired. For a professional look, lightly bruise herb sprigs between your palms to release aroma before garnishing.

Taste each soda and adjust sweetness or acidity to preference by adding more simple syrup or a squeeze of citrus.