Sunday, June 04, 2006

Spice It Up for Summer - Kate's Thai Mojitos

My mojito can beat up your mojito.

This is what I hope to say in August, when my family goes beach-bound and I take my sister Kristin on in our second annual Mojito-Off. Last year, participants' (my family's) preferences were split down the middle, with my coconut-rum mojitos playing sugary-but-delicious kid sister to Krissy's clean and refreshing traditional grownup beverage.

Well, not this year, kiddo. This year, Kate's bringing down the beach house with a mojito that packs a punch.

Kate's Thai Mojitos

INGREDIENTS

2 oz. Bacardi coconut rum (or better!)

1 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice

5 spearmint leaves and 1 sprig, for garnish

4 medium basil leaves

1-2 inches ginger root, peeled and jullienned (chopped into matchsticks)

1 teaspoon sugar, plus extra for rim of glass

Club soda

DIRECTIONS

Rub rim of glass with ginger root and dip in granulated sugar. Muddle spearmint leaves, basil, 1 tsp. sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of the lime juice until sugar is mostly dissolved. Add ginger, rum, and rest of lime juice; add ice and fill with club soda. Garnish and serve.

SPF 30 or higher recommended - these beachy-keen mojitos are way intense! The spicy, tangy, sweet (but not too sweet!) flavor with a zesty basil-coconut twist will really fog your sunglasses. (Optional: for a drier finish, do a half-coconut, half-regular light rum combo.)

This is my submission for the blog event Mixology Monday III: Mint, hosted by Kaiser Penguin. The round-up will be posted there on Tuesday, so check back!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fabulous mojito!

You show your sister who's boss!

Anonymous said...

Mmmm...ginger, basil, mint, rum...can I come to the beach with you?

Lisa said...

This looks absolutely delightful! I must get some mint growing in my backyard. I've been craving a julep, too. So many good things involve mint, and it's so very easy to grow.

I just discovered your blog and I'm adding it to my list of favorites; thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Oh Kate,

I'm the mojito queen. I love mojitos so much that i created a mojito inspired granola.

Try experimenting w/coconut rum and fresh mango.

I hope you kick your sister's booty.

Kate Croft said...

ivonne - will do. =)

jennifer - if you can take on nine little kids and a boggle tournament!

lisa - welcome, and thanks! i'm enjoying my fire-escape spearmint; it's incredibly easy to cultivate and not easily bothered by pests. I've never made a julep - is there a secret?

keep cooking!

julie - what's in you're granola?! that sounds awesome.

as for coconut rum, i'm a self-proclaimed convert. it's great and goes with everything. i'll definitely try the rum-mango combo. thanks!

come august, i'll be sure to let you all in on the mojito-off results...

ThursdayNext said...

Speaking of Julips, Bath and Body Works is carrying a new line of lotions called Savannah Bee. I just bought the "Mint Julip" lotion. SO yummy to smell. Makes me think of my trip to Nawlins pre-Katrina, sipping them at Pat O'Briens.

Chez Megane said...

I just found your blog and have been enjoying it! I love mojitos! Thanks for the new recipe!

Michelle said...

These are my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE DRINK (even better than water!). I was going to post my favorite mojito recipe sometime this summer, but I think yours might beat the pants off of it! Maybe I'll do my own Mojito Off and test yours out! Thanks for giving me a new one to try! (And good luck this summer!)

Lori said...

Hey Kate! These sound AMAZING...once I turn in this bobforsaken thesis, I'm making a pitcher of them. :c)

I made mojitos once, and they suuucked. I just mashed up the mint with my fingers, which it turns out is *not* the same thing as muddling...haha. Just now, I looked up muddling, and I found a really cool website/PDF all about it. Here it is, in case you're interested! http://www.planet-science.com/outthere/mint/pdf/Mint_Muddling.pdf