I love creating refreshing drinks the whole family can enjoy. In the summer, I look to my garden for inspiration. I combined cucumber and basil to create my mojito mocktail. I know what you are thinking mojitos are made with mint. Yes I know but I have so much basil in my garden. I needed to find a use for it besides tomato sauces and pesto. Basil has a slight minty flavor. I like it better than mint actually.
Cucumber-Basil Mojito Mocktail
Print RecipeIngredients
- Basil Simple Syrup:
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 9 basil leaves
- Mojito Mocktail:
- 2 cups fresh lime juice
- 1 (12-inch) cucumber, peeled and cubed
- 4 cups club soda or sparkling water, chilled
- cucumber slices, for garnish
- basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
1
Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until sugar dissolves.
2
Cut the basil leaves into strips. Reduce the heat to low and add the basil. Stir and cook for a minute to infuse flavor. Transfer the simple syrup to a mason jar, cover and cool in the refrigerator.
3
Makes about 2 cups.
4
For the mojito, combine the lime juice and cucumber in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Pour the mixture over a wire mesh strainer into a pitcher. Discard the cucumber pulp.
5
Stir in the basil simple syrup.
6
Add the club soda or sparkling water. Stir.
7
Add the cucumber slices.
8
Serve over ice with cucumber slices and basil leaves.
2 Comments
MayJay
July 11, 2021 at 2:00 pmHow much simple syrup do you put in the drink? It doesn’t say. Also should you strain the basil leaves out of the simple syrup before storing?
Whitney
July 13, 2021 at 9:18 amHi,
For the cucumber-basil mojito mocktail, add the simple syrup to your taste. I would start with a cup and then add more if you would like. 🙂 You can keep the basil leaves in the simple syrup if you plan on using it within a day or two or remove them if keeping for longer.