Sweet Cherry Shrub Recipes

Steps:

• Finely grate zest from lime. Place zest and cherries in a sterilized pint jar. Bring vinegar just to a boil; pour over fruit, leaving ¼-in. headspace. Center lid on jar; screw on band until fingertip tight. Refrigerate for 1 week., Strain vinegar mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into another sterilized pint jar. Press solids to extract juice; discard remaining fruit., Bring sugar and water to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until sugar is dissolved. Cool slightly. Stir into vinegar mixture; shake well. Store in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. , To serve, drink 1-2 tablespoons or add to a glass of ice, top with sparkling water and garnish with fresh cherries and lime.

Steps:

• Mix fruit and sugar in a glass or other nonplastic bowl, breaking apart or mashing the fruit to bring out its juices. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Stir the mixture well, add vinegar and chill. The shrub can be strained and used at this point, but it will take on more of the characteristics of the fruit if it sits for a few days. When ready to use, stir well to make sure sugar is dissolved, then strain using a fine sieve, pressing the solids to get all of the juice.
• Pour the mixture into a clean Mason jar or funnel into a glass bottle with a stopper or cork.
• To prepare a drink, add 1 part shrub to 2 or 3 parts seltzer or ginger beer and serve over ice.

Steps:

• Add chopped cherries to a bowl or large-mouth jar.
• Pour sugar over all. Toss to combine.
• Cover with a paper towel or cheesecloth and rubber band.
• Let sit on counter for 2 days, stirring every now and then until the sugar melts.
• Strain the mixture into a bowl. Discard solids.
• Measure syrup. Return to jar.
• Add an equal measure of vinegar. Stir to combine.
• Store in refrigerator for up to 3 months.