A Citrus 🍸🧡💋Pucker-Upper!
Here’s another twist on a classic martini, a Kumquat Martini🍸. This time, with another tart citrus packed punch🥊. Are you familiar with kumquats? They are tiny, very tart, oval shaped, orange, citrus, fruit. I use them in all kinds of dishes. I’ve used them in recipes from salad dressings to cakes and curds. I’m also usually busy making lots of kumquat jam and I even like to can whole kumquats preserved in a sweet syrup. They are great for baking and delicious on grilled and roasted meats. These pretty little citrus jewels are delicious eaten whole, skin and all. If you like a tart taste, then a kumquatini is right for you!
You Can Sit Under A Kumquat Tree 🌳 But Never Sit Under A Jack Fruit Tree
A Jack Fruit and a Kumquat have nothing whatsoever in common except for the differences in their size. And by that, I mean their size is completely opposite from each other. I just read about Jack Fruit because I saw some super huge ones in our local grocery store. The most important thing I took away from learning about Jack Fruit is that the fruit grows to be as much as 100 pounds. You should never sit under a Jack Fruit Tree, or you could really get hurt. However, you could get hit by a couple dozen kumquats and be just fine. They are tiny…….and safe. 😉
Our kumquat tree puts out more kumquats than I could ever be able to use in a year. I have to admit that this is pretty late in the season and I still have about 1/3 of the tree still filled with fruit. So, what’s a girl to do? Make cocktails, right? This is my version of a Kumquat Martini. I call it a Kumquatini or a Tartini. Here’s how I made it.
To Muddle or Not To Muddle…..🤔
The first part is getting the juice from the kumquats. To make a single cocktail or even two, you can do it with the muddling process. This is to take about 4-5 kumquats and cut into quarters. Remove the seeds and put them into a glass or bowl. Using a wooden spoon or cocktail muddler, smash them as best you can. Then add the fruit to your cocktail shaker. If you want to make a large batch, it’s much easier to make a puree. Add 30 or so kumquats to your food processor blender. Don’t even bother to cut and remove seeds, they will be unnoticeable. Put the processor on high and let it go for a few minutes. Then, strain solids with a fine mesh strainer. Or, if you don’t mind a little pulp, you can use it just as it is.
The Mix-Master
Wet the rim of your cocktail glass with half a kumquat, then roll in sugar, let set. Into a cocktail shaker filled half way with ice, add 2 ounces of your favorite vodka, 1 ounce of the kumquat puree, 3/4 ounce of Grand Marnier or Cointreau or even triple sec, 3/4 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice and 1/2 ounce simple syrup. Shake vigorously for at least 1 minute. Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a kumquat round float or whole kumquat. Better yet, roll whole kumquats in sugar and freeze before serving, and Bob’s your uncle. Cheers!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce kumquat puree
- 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
- 3/4 ounce Grand Marnier, Cointreau or Triple Sec
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
Garnish: Roll whole kumquats in sugar, skewer then freeze. Or round slices of kumquats floated or on rim.
Instructions
Prepare your glass
- Wet the rim of your cocktail glass with half a kumquat, then roll in sugar, let set.
For the Kumquat puree
- To make a single cocktail or even two, you can use the muddling process. Take about 4-5 kumquats per cocktail and cut into quarters. Remove the seeds and put them into a glass or bowl. Using a wooden spoon or cocktail muddler, smash them as best you can. Then add the fruit to your cocktail shaker. If you want to make a large batch, it's much easier to make a puree. Add 30 or so kumquats to your food processor blender. Don't even bother to cut and remove seeds, they will be unnoticeable. Put the processor on high and let it go for a few minutes. Then, strain solids with a fine mesh strainer. Or, if you don't mind a little pulp, you can use it just as it is.
For the Cocktail
- Into a cocktail shaker filled half way with ice, add 2 ounces vodka, 1 ounce kumquat puree, 3/4 ounce Grand Marnier or Cointreau 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice and 1/2 ounce simple syrup. Shake vigorously for at least 1 minute. Strain into cocktail glass.
Garnish with a whole kumquat rolled in sugar then frozen on a skewer or a kumquat round floating on top or “wheel” on rim.
Recipe from Karen Harris https://www.bittersaltysoursweet.com
