Making a round of nojitos isn’t difficult, but it takes a bit more effort than, say, cracking open a can of sparkling water that tastes like the memory of a fruit. But trust me: For guests and loved ones who aren’t looking to get boozed up, this recipe is worth the time. MORE: Sweet & fruity faux champagne recipe For this nojito recipe, you’ll need:
1 can (20 ounces) lychees in syrup, with juice reserved 1 pint strawberries, stemmed 1 bunch fresh mint 2 bottles (20 ounces) club soda, seltzer or clear carbonated drink such as 7Up
The key to a mojito is muddling the sugar and mint together so that the fresh herbaceousness comes through, and the same principle applies with or without the booze. Start by putting two strawberries (minus the stems) and two lychees in the bottom of a glass with a few fresh mint leaves. Use a muddler (or the thick end of a spoon) to crush and twist the fruit and mint together. MORE: Re-create the Starbucks banana frappuccino with this at-home recipe Once it’s all mushed together (and smells amazing), fill the rest of the glass with soda water and a good splash of juice from the canned lychees. Add more juice if you like your nojito on the sweeter side; you can use a clear soda like 7Up or Sprite instead of seltzer, too. If you’re looking for more non-alcoholic summer drink options, check out our copycat banana frappuccino recipe below.
