If you don’t fancy gin then vodka, white rum or St-Germain – an elderflower liqueur– would all make a delicious boozy addition instead.
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Yields:
8 serving(s)
Prep Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
15 mins
Cal/Serv:
85
Ingredients
2
large cucumbers, trimmed
15g
mint, leaves picked plus extra sprigs to garnish
250ml
elderflower cordial
Juice 6 limes
TO SERVE
Ice
Gin, optional
Soda water, chilled, optional
Directions
Step 1Using a Y-shaped vegetable peeler, shave 8 long ribbons from 1 cucumber, reserving trimmings. Place the ribbons on a plate, cover with damp kitchen paper and chill until needed. Roughly chop remaining shaved and whole cucumber, as well as the reserved trimmings.
Step 2In a large blender or food processor, whizz the chopped cucumber, mint leaves, elderflower cordial and lime juice until smooth. Pass through a fine sieve into a jug, working the pulp well. Discard pulp. Chill mixture for at least 1hr (up to 8hr).
Step 3To serve short, fill 8 tumblers with ice and add a cucumber ribbon and mint sprig to each. Add a splash of gin to each glass, if using, and pour in the chilled cucumber mixture. If serving long, fill 8 high-ball glasses with ice and add a splash of gin to each glass, if using, and garnish as before. Pour in the chilled cucumber mixture and top up with soda water. Serve.
Make the mixture up to end of step to up to 8hr ahead, cover and chill in the fridge.
A crack team of highly skilled food content producers, the GH Kitchen Team are Good Housekeeping’s resident recipe developers and all-round food obsessives. GH Kitchen Director Sarah Akhurstis our resident hosting pro and loves nothing more than putting on a foodie feast for friends. Senior Cookery Writer Alice Shields is a former pastry chef and baking fanatic who loves making bread and would have peanut butter with everything if she could. Lover of all things savoury, Senior Cookery Writer Grace Evans can be found eating nocellara olives at every opportunity, and will take the cheeseboard over dessert any time. With a wealth of professional kitchen experience between them, they’re dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work every single time.
