Every year at Christmas I always come up with one scheme or another to make something a bit different to eat or drink. Last year it was raspberry gin and pickled pears. This year I stumbled across the recipe for Limoncello via the Domestic Sluttery Blog and though that I would give it a go. The smell of vodka and citrus in the kitchen while I was making it took me back to my misspent youth drinking vodka and lime…..!! The pictures here are for stage one of the process – the lemon peel and vodka are now steeping for a week before a sugar syrup is added. Check back next week for an update.
Recipe for Limoncello
Ingredients: (makes 1.5 litres)
- 6 unwaxed lemons
- 75ml bottle of vodka ((48-50% abv))
- 750g sugar
- 75ml water
To make:
- Use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin of the lemons in strips making sure that you don’t include any of the pith as this will make it bitter.
- Put the lemon peel into a a big Kilner jar and pour over the vodka. Put the lid on and give it a good shake. Pop it in a cupboard or pantry and shake daily.
- A week later put the sugar and water in a saucepan and heat whilst stirring until all the sugar is dissolved then bring to the boil. Once boiling reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until syrupy.
- Strain the lemon infused vodka though some muslin or a sieve into a jug then very slowly and carefully pour it into your hot syrup. Be careful – it will spit.
- Let it cool completely then pour it into bottles and leave it in a cupboard for about 10-15 days.
- Decant it into smaller bottles to give away as gifts or just put it straight into your freezer.
Posted in Advent Blog, Recipes and food
