How to Make Ginger Ale

When I saw this recipe posted on Amateur Gourmet, I knew I had to try it with my sodastream. Sodastream comes with a ginger ale syrup that is on the sweeter side (without the kick of chile peppers), so I figured this would be a fun drink to make. I served the syrup with Pimm’s and it was actually a big hit (at the lobster roll party). If I made it again, I’ll use less chili peppers – they really add a kick at the end!

Homemade Ginger Ale
recipe by Jean-Georges Vongerichten
adapted from “Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef”

Ingredients:

1 pound fresh ginger, unpeeled and cut into small dice
5 dried chili peppers
3/4 cup sugar
1.5 cups water
Soda water

I used five or six chili peppers because I wanted a really hot ginger ale. If you don’t want to burn your tongue or start sweating from drinking a cold soda, use less peppers.

Place the peeled ginger and the peppers in a blender and add a little of the sugar water:

Blend:

Pour the blended mixture back into the pot that was used to melt the sugar water:

I poured the mixture back into the pot just to make sure all of the sugar was melted and that everything was combined. After everything is combined, strain the mixture:

When the mixture is cool, you can pour two tablespoons into a glass and add soda water (and Pimm’s!)

Have you ever made your own syrup? What combinations have you tried?