Ideas for grapefruit-flavoured syrup
December 18, 2010 3:25 AM   Subscribe

What to do with grapefruit-infused simple syrup?

I made candied grapefruit last weekend, which left me with about two cups of grapefruit-infused simple syrup, which I have been storing in the fridge. I brushed some over some salmon fillets the other day and it tasted magical. What other tasty things can I use it for?

I have a feeling it would make a good cocktail ingredient, so cocktail recipes that you think it would work well with are welcome too, but so are food recipes.
posted by lollusc to Food & Drink (16 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
I was just thinking tonight about making some home-made limoncello, and i came across this link.

Here is a sample recipe for limoncello, i'd imagine that the general recipe could be followed using citrus rind of your choice.

Hope this helps!
posted by frmrpreztaft at 3:54 AM on December 18, 2010


Best answer: Palomas are made with grapefruit soda, tequila, and lime. I would try 2 parts tequila : 1 part lime juice : 1/2-1 part grapefruit simple syrup and adjust from there for sweetness.
posted by asphericalcow at 3:58 AM on December 18, 2010 [2 favorites]


Best answer: Sorbets are basically frozen sugar syrups. I would add lemon/grapefruit juice, dillute with water as necessary, and freeze.
posted by leigh1 at 4:00 AM on December 18, 2010


Response by poster: I should note that I don't actually have the zest or the candied fruit anymore. I ate it all um... gave it away as Christmas gifts.
posted by lollusc at 4:11 AM on December 18, 2010 [3 favorites]


Going along with the frozen dessert idea, I've used leftover lemon simple syrup from candied peel instead of agave syrup in this recipe for Lemon Kefir Ice Cream. Tangy, sweet, tart.
posted by dywypi at 4:48 AM on December 18, 2010


Best answer: Do you drink? Bourbon and grapefruit juice is delicious, and I think a grapefruit margarita would be really good. Where do you live? I'll come over and help you test.
posted by theora55 at 6:00 AM on December 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Pour over vanilla ice cream.
posted by vitabellosi at 6:12 AM on December 18, 2010


Best answer: I use grapefruit syrup:
- in sparkling wine
- in sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice (orange, cranberry, or even a squeeze of lemon)
- in vodka
- blended with fruit, ice, and juice to make an aqua fresca, which I served with soda water for a little fizz
- to make granita. Mix grapefruit or orange juice and syrup, chill well, then freeze. (Chilling the solution makes smaller crystals in the frozen final product.) Scrape with a fork to serve. As my sister discovered when I took some to her house, this is FABULOUS in a martina glass and topped with sparkling wine.
- to brush cakes before frosting. Simple syrup (or simple syrup mixed with liqueur) gives cakes a little extra ooomph and flavor and insures that it stays moist.

It never occurred to me to use it in savory dishes as you did. The salmon sounds great! I bet it would be good in salad dressing, too, especially those with a citrus or apple cider base. Sometimes that extra dimension of sweetness can make a dressing really spark.
posted by Elsa at 7:25 AM on December 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


I'd experiment to develop a sort of salty dogarita.
posted by glibhamdreck at 8:33 AM on December 18, 2010


Make a salad dressing for fruit salad. mmm... makes me hungry!
posted by northernlightgardener at 8:55 AM on December 18, 2010


Last time I made candied grapefruit (yum!) I used the leftover syrup to sweeten black tea, instead of regular sugar or honey. If you like a bit of lemon in tea, this is an interesting alternative.
posted by illenion at 9:21 AM on December 18, 2010


Best answer: Palomas (above) are a great drink. That basic recipe would be tasty with gin, too.

Ice cream or granita is also a great idea.

Sweet black tea with grapefruit is something I'll have to try. Again with gin, or maybe mescal.

Have any parties coming up? you could use the syrup in a punch.

Campari is an Italian bitter liqueur that has a huge grapefruit taste. A great drink with Campari is the Boulevardier: 1.5oz bourbon, 1oz Campari, 1oz sweet vermouth. Since you've got a syrup, maybe 2oz bourbon, 1oz syrup, 1oz dry vermouth?
posted by Prince_of_Cups at 11:59 AM on December 18, 2010


Mix with soda water and ice = Italian soda.
Campari and grapefruit juice is delightful, so something Campari-related would also be good.
How about mixing with Vanilla Vodka?
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:13 PM on December 18, 2010


Response by poster: Thanks, everyone! I marked almost everything as best answer in the end! I plan to try them all! The ones I didn't mark were just because I either don't like them (don't like sugar in my tea, for example) or I can't make them (don't have an ice cream maker) not because they aren't good answers in principle!
posted by lollusc at 4:07 PM on December 18, 2010


a dash of that in a vodka soda would be delicious. I bet it wpuld be good with tequila and soda, too. now I want some!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:41 PM on December 18, 2010


I'm fairly convinced that I'll make a black tea + grapefruit syrup + tequila punch for NYE.
posted by Prince_of_Cups at 5:52 PM on December 18, 2010


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