OXO Good Tips Blogs: Coffee & Beverages

Summer is here and there’s no better drink to sip poolside or on your patio than a fruity sangria. These fruit-filled beverages are easy to make and delicious to drink—and great to produce in pitcher-size batches for easy entertaining. You can create your own or try a more structured recipe. With so many variations on the theme, fruity sangria never gets boring.

In fact, one of the great things about sangria is the option to go traditional or to customize your drinks based on seasonal fruit and personal preference. All you really need is a bottle of wine, fruit juice and fresh fruit. Many sangria recipes also add alcohol in addition to the wine, like vodka or Cointreau. Whether you choose to add extra booze is totally up to you and your guests. It will change the flavour profile, so keep that in mind as you’re choosing which fruit and juice to add.

With so many options, it can be hard to settle on the right sangria for your party. If you’re struggling to make a decision, consider leaving it up to your guests: Get creative and host a summer sangria party where you set out a variety of ingredients and let everyone make their own version of this refreshing drink.

To Ice or Not to Ice

Since your sangria will be chilled, you don’t necessarily need to serve it over ice. But if it’s a hot day outside, you might want to pour your drinks over cubes so you can have the extra chill. Try this fun tip for your next batch: Save some of the fruit you’re using in your recipe (blueberries and grapes work well) and freeze it, then add the frozen fruit to each glass in lieu of ice for all the chill and none of the diluted flavour.

Ready to brew a batch? These summer sangria ideas are perfect for parties and serve 8-10 people.

Strawberry-Watermelon Sangria

Directions:

1) Remove the hulls from the strawberries. Mash 1 cup of strawberries in a bowl. Cut remaining strawberries into slices or chunks.

2) Cut watermelon in half. Remove the flesh from the rind of one half and mash the watermelon in the same bowl as the strawberries. Cut remaining watermelon into chunks.

3) Cut lime in half. Zest one half into the watermelon-strawberry mixture, then squeeze in the lime juice. Cut the other half into thin slices.

4) Pour the bottle of wine into a pitcher. Add the fruit mash and stir well. Add cut strawberries, whole raspberries, watermelon and lime; mix well. Chill.

5) Serve in individual glasses with fresh mint leaves as a garnish.

Orange-Peach Sangria

Directions:

1) Peel 1 peach using a serrated peeler to avoid damaging the flesh. Remove flesh from the pit. Mash the peach in a bowl. Cut two remaining peaches into chunks.

2) Pour a bottle of wine into a pitcher. Add the peach mash and juices. Mix well. Add peach chunks and sliced orange. Chill.

3) Serve in individual glasses with basil as a garnish.

Lemon-Cherry Sangria Mocktail

Directions:

1) Remove the pits from the cherries.

2) In a pitcher, combine the Sprite, lemonade and Grenadine. Mix well. Add the pitted cherries. Chill.

3) Serve in individual glasses garnished with thyme sprigs.