Creamy mandarin, mild ginger, and purple basil agua fresca
An original, refreshing drink made with mandarin juice, a gentle touch of fresh ginger, aromatic purple basil, and a light oat base that adds creaminess without heaviness. Best served very cold.
Ingredients
- 360 g mandarins, peeled and segmented (without semillas)
- 600 ml water (divided)
- 40 g rolled oats (for licuar and colar)
- 12 g fresh ginger (pelado and sliced finas)
- 8 g fresh purple basil (leaves sueltas, more extra for decorar)
- 30 ml lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 45 g honey (ajustar to taste)
- 1 g fine salt (a pinch)
- 320 g ice (more extra for servir)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. In a small saucepan, heat 200 ml water with the ginger over medium heat until it reaches a gentle simmer, about 195-205°F (90-96°C). Cook for 5 minutes to infuse.
- 2
2. Remove from the heat, add the honey and salt, stir until dissolved, and let it rest for 5 minutes. Strain and cool the ginger syrup until lukewarm or cold.
- 3
3. Place the oats in a blender with the remaining 400 ml water. Let soak for 3 minutes, then blend for 1 minute until smooth.
- 4
4. Strain the oat mixture through a fine sieve or cheesecloth, pressing gently to extract the liquid. Discard or save the pulp for another use.
- 5
5. In the same blender, add the mandarins, strained oat liquid, cooled ginger syrup, lemon juice, purple basil, and ice. Blend for 30 to 45 seconds until the drink is very cold and lightly frothy.
- 6
6. Taste and adjust with a little more honey or lemon if desired. Serve immediately in glasses with extra ice and garnish with additional purple basil leaves.
Chef tips
For deeper flavor, lightly bruise the basil before blending. If you want an even silkier texture, strain the drink a second time before serving.
Substitutions
You can replace the honey with agave syrup for a vegan version. If purple basil is unavailable, use regular sweet basil; the aroma will change slightly but still be delicious.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageVictorinox Fibrox Pro 8" Chef’s Knife
Chopping, slicing and cutting strips
- The knife I use most when cooking
- Chops, slices and cuts into strips
- Keep it sharp and hand-dry it
Illustrative imageTeakhaus Teak Cutting Board
Stable base for chopping
- Stable surface for chopping
- Gentle on your knife edge
- Hand-wash and let it dry
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