Cardamom Sharbat

From the kitchen of Carly

Crushed cardamom pods infuse this golden syrup with warm spice and floral depth. Bright lemon juice balances the sweetness into something sophisticated and refreshing. Stir into still or sparkling water for an elegant drink that feels like a celebration in a glass.

Prep
n/a
Cook
n/a
Total
n/a
Servings
4
Difficulty
medium

Ingredients

4 servings

  • 11 tablespoon green cardamom pods
  • 11/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 3 lemons)
  • 11 cup granulated sugar
  • 1Cold still or sparkling water

Instructions

  1. With the flat side of a knife, crush the cardamom pods to reveal the black seeds inside. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, bring the cardamom pods and seeds, lemon juice, and sugar to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to maintain a rapid simmer for 10 minutes. Don’t allow the mixture to boil. After 10 minutes, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, reserving the liquid and discarding the solids. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold and syrupy.

  2. Fill a glass with still or sparkling water. Stir in 1 tablespoon sharbat for each 1 cup water. Some syrup will settle at the bottom of the glass, so serve it with a spoon to allow for continued stirring or consider the last sip a sweet treat.