Cucumber and Mint Water

This recipe is a modification of the Cucumber Lime Mocktail from the Vibrant Plate by Hofer Slovenia.

While the recipe normally serves 4 with the addition of carbonated water or mineral water, Bruce drinks it straight and loves it. He does not want it diluted. If served without carbonated water, it serves 2.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 large cucumber (8 to 10 inches), peeled and diced (try to get a 10 inch one)
• 1 cup of water
• 2 lemons or limes (4 to 6 tbsp of juice)
• 3 to 6 tbsp of fresh mint leaves, to taste
• 2 tbsp of sugar or maple syrup
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup of carbonated water or mineral water
• 2 cups of ice
• Mint leaves or lemon/lime slices for a garnish

Tools:

High Speed Blender, fine mesh strainer, wide mouth quart jar, spoon

Instructions

1. Add the peeled and diced cucumber, 1 cup of water, 4 tablespoons of lemon or lime, 3 tablespoons of mint, 1 tablespoon of sugar or maple syrup, and the pinch of salt to the blender.
2. Blend on high speed until smooth i.e., no chunks of cucumber remain.
3. Taste to see if you want more mint. Add it now and blend until smooth. Taste and repeat until you have the fresh mint flavor you want.
4. If after tasting, you want more lemon or lime juice, add the additional 2 tablespoons a little at a time and blend for a for about 5 seconds. Taste and repeat until you like the taste.
5. Strain the juice through the fine mesh strainer into a wide mouth quart jar. Using the back of the spoon press on the remainder of the cucumber and mint fiber to get the remaining juice.
6. At this point, you can put the juice in the refrigerator to be used later. I would only keep it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
7. To make 4 servings, put 1/2 cups of ice in each of the four glasses. I recommend tall glasses. You can use less ice if you want.
8. Add the 1 cup of carbonated water or mineral water to the juice, mix, and pour over ice. Garnish with mint leaves or lemon/lime slices.
9. To make one serving at a time, fill glass with half a cup of ice. Mix 1/4 of carbonated water or mineral water with 3/4 of the cucumber juice, mix well, and pour over the ice. Garnish if you want.

Notes:

Bruce loves this cucumber drink without the carbonated water or mineral water.

Bruce likes a little more salt in the juice after working in the yard.

You can add more sugar/maple syrup if the juice isn’t sweet enough for your taste.