Guava Fresca With Mint And Ginger Food

CUCUMBER AGUA FRESCA WITH MINT AND GINGER

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the mint leaves, sugar and salt, and crush them all together using a fork or the back of a wooden spoon just until the mint is bruised. Pour in the hot water, and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve. Allow the mixture to steep for 5 minutes while you prepare the cucumbers.
• Combine the cucumbers and ginger in a blender. Zest the lime right over the blender, then halve it and squeeze in its juice. Pour in 1 cup room-temperature water and purée on high until smooth. Pour the purée through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing lightly on the solids with a spatula to extract the liquid. Discard the solids and pour the agua fresca into a medium pitcher.
• Pour the mint syrup through the same strainer into a container, pressing on the leaves to extract the liquid. Add ¼ cup strained syrup to the agua fresca. Taste and add more syrup or more lime juice to taste. Cover any leftover syrup and refrigerate for another use.
• Fill glasses with ice, pour in the agua fresca, garnish with mint and serve immediately.

GUAVA FRESCA WITH MINT AND GINGER

Steps:

• Combine sugar, mint, ginger, and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Let cool completely. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
• Stir together mint syrup and guava juice in a pitcher; chill. Fill glasses with ice and 1/3 cup guava mixture. Top with seltzer. Add mint sprigs and a shot of liquor to each. Stir once. Serve immediately.