This homemade lemon and lime cordial is a simple syrup made from fresh citrus, granulated sugar, and water that concentrates bright citrus flavor for mixing with sparkling water or still water to create refreshing drinks.
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Zest all the lemons and limes using a microplane zester. Set the zest aside.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the zested lemons and limes and blanch for 1 minute.
Remove the citrus from the pot. Reserve the blanching water in the pot.
Once cool enough to handle, cut the blanched lemons and limes in half and juice them into a separate bowl.
To the reserved blanching water, add the sugar and the reserved citrus zest.
Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Pour in the fresh lemon and lime juice and bring the mixture back to a simmer.
Strain the hot cordial through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof container to remove the zest.
Let the cordial cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To serve, pour the cordial over ice and top with sparkling water.
Store in sterile glass bottles in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks; for extended shelf life, sterilize bottles and seal hot cordial immediately after cooking.
Properly stored in an airtight glass bottle in the refrigerator, it typically lasts 4-6 weeks. For longer storage, sterilize bottles and seal hot cordial to extend shelf life.
Start with 1 part cordial to 4-5 parts sparkling water, then adjust to your preferred strength. Most people enjoy a 1:4 ratio for balanced sweetness and tartness.
Fresh citrus gives superior flavor, but bottled juice can work in a pinch. Use about 1.5 cups fresh juice equivalent and reduce the water slightly to compensate.
Yes, this recipe is naturally vegan and gluten-free. It contains only lemons, limes, sugar, and water.
You can reduce sugar by up to 25%, but the cordial may not keep as long and will taste less sweet. Lower sugar also reduces the preservative effect.
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