Blog

Healthy Diet: Strawberry Rhubarb Soda Syrup

Posted on Jul 08, 2015

Posted in: Healthy Diet

Peanut butter and jelly.  Strawberries and cream.  Dark chocolate and sea salt.  Honey and apples.  There are just some food combinations that love each other.  The two halves are made better when combined into one whole.  I would also include rhubarb and strawberries in this list.  The bitterness of the rhubarb and the sweetness of the strawberries harmonizes perfectly to create a delicious flavor profile.  This syrup is so easy to make and it will make your house smell like jammy goodness.  Use it for homemade soda for the kids or as a cocktail mixer for the adults. You can find inspiration here and here.  Hurry, though, rhubarb is on its way out at the Farmer’s Market so get some while you still can.

Strawberry Rhubarb Soda Syrup

Adapted slightly from Smitten Kitchen

• 1 lb of strawberries, tops removed and sliced in half
• 1 lb of rhubarb, sliced into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of water
• 1 lemon

Combine strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and water in a large saucepan.  Remove several strips of peel from lemon with a vegetable peeler and add them to the pot.  Juice the lemon and set aside.  Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce it to a gentle simmer.  Simmer for 20 minutes, or until fruit has completely collapsed, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat, add half the lemon juice and let fruit cool in syrup.  Once cool, pour mixture through a fine-mesh strainer (or, if you only have a coarse one, line it with cheesecloth or a lint-free towel).  Press solids with the back of a spoon or spatula to get the most syrup from them.

Save fruit pulp in a separate container; it can be used to stir into plain yogurt, atop ice cream or in your next smoothie. I have been using it atop my yogurt and granola in the mornings.

To make 1 glass of soda, pour 2 tablespoons of the syrup in the bottom of a glass, fill with ice and then add sparkling water.  Give it a stir and add more syrup to taste.  Enjoy!

---